Can Mint Survive Winter? (Guide for Survival)

Mint’s refreshing flavor is ideal to freshen your drinks and desserts all year round. Are you planning on getting some mint from your own garden for hot tea or even dessert in winter? You may be wondering if it’s feasible. Can mint survive winter? How can you shield your mint from the cold?

Read on to find out whether you’ll be able to get some tasty mint from your own garden for all the winter foods you enjoy.

When your climate becomes more frigid, the chance of your plants not making it through the winter is also increasing. There are some plants that thrive through the winter months, they are not as hardy.

Can Mint Survive Outside in the Winter?

Mint will die when it is left outside during the winter months, however, it will be able to survive and leaves will return when the weather warms up. The leaves won’t grow on your mint if placed outside too long during the winter.

Mint is a plant with a high tolerance to frost, meaning it can last longer than most other plants. But mint leaves won’t last forever and it’s not advisable to bet on the mint to have leaves after it has been outside for the end of winter.

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What Temperature Can Mint Tolerate?

The cultivation of mint isn’t difficult, you can plant your mint plants in your garden or even in a tiny container inside. But, it is crucial to ensure you have the right temperature. right.

As with most perennial plants, mint likes temperatures that vary between 55deg and 70degF. Mint likes full sunlight, but it is able to flourish and grow in light conditions.

Although mint isn’t drought-resistant it is a tough plant that is able to withstand cold temperatures, despite slowing its growth.

In the majority of cases, the first winter frost can kill mint plants. But strong and robust roots can keep growing regardless of temperatures that fall to less than 20 degrees F.

It is not just well-adapted to cold conditions It also thrives in hot weather and can spread during hot weather, but especially when properly watered.

In addition, mint is drought-resistant and can recover from drought quickly.

Mint is tolerant of temperatures and cold. However, temperatures that are too high can cause the plant to lose its leaves and eventually become discolored. The normal lethal temperature for mints is 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

When temperatures are above 90 degrees F and remain high for prolonged durations the leaves will wilt and the mint begins to shrink and die.

The reason for this is that water evaporates more rapidly in the heat and leaves the plant’s reserves at a minimum.

But, you can’t relax and watch your mint plants wilt because of the temperatures. There are steps that you can take to safeguard your plants from extreme heat.

How to Help Mint Live Through the Winter

There are several ways to assist you in getting your mint plant in winter. The methods vary based on the location you’re planting your mint, the purpose you plan using it for, when you intend to use it and other variables also. Learn more about the best option for you as well as your plant.

Move your Mint inside

One of the primary ways to keep growing mint during the winter months is by moving it indoors. While your mint can withstand the cold winter months thanks to its resistance to frost but it won’t expand nearly as fast, and in the end will cease to grow completely until the time of spring.

There are several methods to bring the mint inside. The first is to move it to a window that is sunny. If it isn’t too cold in the window, the mint will be able to grow well, benefiting from the sun that it will get from the window, but still shielded from the frigid winter air.

It could be placed on an outdoor sun deck or the greenhouse. Like windows they allow the mint to keep getting sun and remain at a temperature that’s more healthy for the plant’s growth. For greenhouses, be sure that the temperature doesn’t get hot! Mint thrives best when it is temperatures of less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition, you can keep the mint in a protected area far from windows or even inside garages. Mint doesn’t require much sunshine to live. It thrives better in sunlight as opposed to shade, however, it is ok in shade as well.

It is possible to help your mint to grow even more by placing it in water, something we’ll talk about further down!

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Use Cloche

Another option to ensure that your mint is able to survive and grow during the winter is to use the cloche. Cloches are a tiny covering, which is usually transparent or translucent and is placed over a plant in the winter months to keep it safe from freezing temperatures. Cloches from the past were made of glass, whereas modern cloches tend to be made of plastic material.

Any type of cloche can function, theoretically. Place it on top of the mint plant once it gets colder outside. Be sure to watch your mint closely and check how quickly the leaves begin to lose their leaves. Keep in mind that mint is frost resistant in the beginning, and it may take some time. Keep an eye on your mint to be aware of its health when the cloche is on it.

Keep it warm – Mulching

The reason plants and herbs such as mint struggle to thrive in the winter months is due to the temperature. They’re not very good when it comes to growing in cold weather. Therefore, one might think the best method to tackle it is by keeping the plants warm. If you believe this is true, then you’re correct! But, there are many more inventive ways to keep your plant warm rather than simply shifting the plants into the house.

Covering the mint garden with fine mulch or straw or even shredded bark or wood will help it become protected and kept warm. Although it may sound counterintuitive since it blocks the plant from sunlight, the mint will be able to develop quite effectively.

This is due to two reasons. The first, as we’ve discussed previously the fact that it can ensure that the plant stays warm enough for it to flourish throughout the winter seasons.

Second, mint is a perennial plant that can thrive in bright sunlight, it can also thrive in shade. It can continue expanding even when it is covered. This is ideal for the purpose of keeping it alive during the winter! Therefore, don’t fret about covering the leaves with mulch. The mint will be perfect.

Place The Mint In Water

When your plant is inside there is also the option of pulling it out from the ground and putting the plant in water. Mint is very fast growing in water. It is a good way to ensure they can survive winter if you bring them inside while the fall season is drawing to an end. After that, add them to water and allow them to expand for a couple of weeks.

Also, you can pick a mint that’s been dormant indoors and kick-start its growth with its leaf by placing it in water. Be sure to do this at least a couple of weeks prior to the time you wish to use the mint plant, however, since it’ll take a while to grow fully again.

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FAQ’s

If you’re concerned about your mint leaves or just getting through the harsh winter months of December or January and February, you’re not the only one! Here are some concerns that many plant parents and plant moms are asking about their mint in winter!

How Cold Can Mint Plants Tolerate?

Mint plants will grow up to the first frost, which is about 32°F. But as winter approaches they’ll stop growing new leaves. They thrive best at temperatures between 55-70 degrees Celsius. The temperature below 50 isn’t optimal and freezing can make things extremely difficult.

Does Mint Need Full Sun?

Mint thrives in full sunlight, however, it doesn’t require the full sunlight to grow. Mint also thrives inside, in shade, or on sun porches or greenhouses. This versatility makes mint an extremely easy plant to cultivate. The short answer is that mint doesn’t require a lot of sunshine. It is, however, a nice thing to have if it’s available.

Will Mint Grow Back After Winter?

Yes! While outdoor mint dies during the cold winter months, the plant will be back in spring when spring rolls to a close. If you plant your mint properly, it will return every year. If you’re struggling to get the growth of your mint following winter, consider this remedy!

About every three years (or more often if your mint struggles to get back in shape or maintain its taste after winter’s end) Take your mint plants from the soil. Install new soil or mulch, along with fertilizer and other materials down and then plant mint plants back in their bed. This will let the mint grow efficiently, even in the coldest winters.

I hope that the most important questions have been answered!

Conclusion

We’ve discovered that mint isn’t the best plant to plant outdoors during winter. However, it’s not impossible to pick some mint during winter! Mint’s flexibility, adaptability and durability as an herb permit it to thrive in all kinds of settings and in a variety of innovative ways.

No matter if you’re using a Cloche or shifting your mint plant to new locations or even covering it, or even putting into the water there’s an ideal method for you to pour some of that wonderful, fragrant mint flavor into your food and drinks even during snow.

What are you wasting time for? If you’d like the mint plants to keep expanding in winter You must take action on one of these strategies right now! If you don’t do this, you won’t enjoy the added flavor of mint that will refresh your hot tea in front of the fireplace.