Lush green spearmint plant growing in a sunny garden

How to Grow Spearmint From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Spearmint is the classic, sweet, mild mint for cooking and tea, with bright green crinkled leaves and a fresh, cooling scent. It is a vigorous, easy-to-grow perennial that returns bigger every year, so most gardeners grow it in a pot to keep its spreading runners in bounds. Ready in about 90 days, it is the go-to mint for fruit salads, yogurt sauces, mojitos, and a quick cup of tea. Give it sun and steady moisture and it practically grows itself.

This is the quick guide to Spearmint. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, sowing, feeding, and troubleshooting mint, see our complete guide to growing mint from seed.

Quick start

Surface-sow the tiny seeds on moist mix and press in lightly, since they need light to germinate, then keep them at 65 to 70F. Sprouts appear in about 10 to 16 days. Grow in full sun to part shade in rich, evenly moist soil, and transplant into a pot or a sunken bottomless container to keep the runners in bounds. Begin harvesting in about 90 days, cutting stems just above a pair of leaves.

Best tip

Grow spearmint in a pot from day one; it is a vigorous spreader whose runners will take over a bed if left loose. Pinch the tips to keep it bushy and delay flowering for the best flavor. Climate note: spearmint is hardy roughly across zones 3 to 11, so in the cold North it dies back and returns each spring, while in the warm South and coastal California it can stay green nearly year-round and grow fast, which makes a container even more useful for keeping it in check.

At a glance

Botanical nameMentha spicata

Plant typePerennial herb

USDA zones3 to 11 (hardy perennial)

SunFull sun to part shade

Days to maturityAbout 90 days (leaf)

Height12 to 24 inches

Spacing18 to 24 inches apart (best in a pot)

WaterRegular; keep evenly moist

Uses

Spearmint is the sweet, mild, all-purpose mint for the kitchen. Steep a handful of sprigs for a bright cup of tea, and add it to fruit salads, yogurt sauces, peas, lamb, tabbouleh, and desserts. It is the classic mint for mojitos and mint juleps, and a few leaves freshen up water and lemonade. Pick leaves before the plant flowers, when they taste strongest.

Frequently asked questions

What is spearmint used for?

Spearmint is the classic sweet, mild mint for the kitchen. Steep fresh sprigs for tea, add it to fruit salads, yogurt sauces, peas, tabbouleh, and desserts, and use it in drinks like mojitos and mint juleps. Its gentle flavor is more versatile in cooking than sharper peppermint.

Does spearmint spread and take over?

Yes. Spearmint is a vigorous spreader that sends out underground runners and can quickly take over a bed. The easy fix is to grow it in a pot or a sunken bottomless container, and to trim back any runners that try to wander so it stays where you want it.

How do I grow spearmint from seed?

Spearmint seeds are tiny and need light to sprout, so surface-sow them on moist mix and press in gently without covering. Keep the mix at 65 to 70F and lightly misted, and seedlings appear in about 10 to 16 days. Grow in full sun to part shade in rich, moist soil, ideally in a container to contain the runners.

How long does spearmint take to grow?

Spearmint is ready to begin harvesting in about 90 days from sowing, once plants are 6 to 8 inches tall. Cut stems just above a pair of leaves and take no more than a third at a time, and each cut encourages bushier growth. As a hardy perennial, it returns bigger every year.

Ready to grow your own? Start with a value set that includes herbs like mint, plus many more to fill your garden. For the full step-by-step, see our complete mint growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Want more than spearmint? These value sets pair herbs like mint with many more to grow:

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.