Spearmint care

1. Spring

   Every 2-3 days

   Divide or repot crowded plants and start regular harvesting.

2. Summer

   Every 2-3 days

   Water often and pinch off flower spikes to keep the leaves coming.

3. Autumn

   Weekly

   Bring a pot indoors to a sunny windowsill to keep picking through winter.

4. Winter

   Weekly

   Growth slows; water less, keep it bright and expect smaller leaves.

• Give it its own pot

  Its runners crowd out any other herb sharing the container.

• Harvest often

  Regular picking keeps the plant bushy and full of young leaves.

• Cut it back after flowering

  Take the stems down to about 5 cm to get a fresh flush of leaves.

• Root a stem in water

  A cutting in a glass of water roots in about a week and can be potted up.

• Divide every few years

  Split crowded pots in spring and replant a healthy piece in fresh compost.

• Mint rust

  What you seeOrange, then yellow or black dusty spots on stems and leaf undersides.

  What to doCut affected stems to the base and bin them; if it returns, start over with a clean plant in fresh compost.

• Thin, pale stems

  What you seeLong, weak shoots with small leaves.

  What to doMove it to a brighter window and cut the stems back by half to force new growth.

• Aphids

  What you seeClusters of small green or black insects on soft shoot tips.

  What to doRinse them off with water and pinch out the worst tips.

• The genus is named after Minthe, a nymph in Greek myth who was turned into a mint plant.

• The species name spicata means 'spiked', after its narrow flower spikes.

• Herbs Parsley Petroselinum crispum Partial Sun Every 2-3 days Toxic to pets Easy care Flowers indoors
• Flowering Amaryllis Hippeastrum Partial Sun Weekly Toxic to pets Easy care Flowers indoors
• Herbs Basil Ocimum basilicum Full Sun Every 2-3 days Pet safe Flowers indoors Fast growing
• Herbs Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Full Sun Every 2 weeks Toxic to pets Drought tolerant Flowers indoors

All herbs to grow indoors