Growing mint is a great way to incorporate a tasty herb into your garden. It can be used in cooking, or you can simply leave it to grow and use the leaves when they’re fresh. Mints are easy to care for and will thrive in most climates. But what happens if you have mint plants outside during winter? Can they survive frost, or do they need to be brought inside?
Can Mints Survive Frost?
Mints can survive frost, but they can’t survive severe frost.
If you want to know if mints will survive an average amount of frost, you need to look at their hardiness zone. For example, if you live in zone 8b, your mint plants will typically be able to withstand a light frost (when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit). If you live in zone 6b or higher, you’ll probably have mint plants that can withstand a moderate frost (temperatures between 28 and 20 degrees).
If you’re worried that your mint plants might get damaged by a heavy frost, it’s best to plant them in pots so that they can be moved indoors if necessary. You could also mulch around the plants with hay or straw to help insulate them from the cold.
How Tolerant Are Mints To Cold Weather
Mints are pretty tolerant of cold weather. The key to keeping your mints healthy during the winter is to give them enough water—but not too much.
Mints do best when they are watered in moderation, with their soil consistently moist but not soggy. As long as you don’t overwater them (by letting the soil get too wet), you should be able to keep your mints healthy through the winter months.
How To Protect Your Mints From Frost
To keep your mint plants healthy and happy during frost, here are a few tips:
Cover the mint with a blanket or tarp. The idea is to protect your mint plants from frost before it hits. If you can’t do that, at least cover them with something light, like a sheet of plastic or black cloth. You can also use an old shower curtain over the plants.
Use a frost cloth. Frost cloth is similar to the previous method except that it’s made out of thin fabric that allows moisture through but keeps cold air out. This way, you’re protecting your plants from both heat and cold as well as keeping them safe from pests like insects and slugs!
Make sure the soil drains well before planting mints in it (and make sure there aren’t any rocks). Mints thrive in moist conditions but need good drainage so that they don’t rot after getting wet feet in winter months when temperatures drop below freezing point regularly—which could mean losing all those precious leaves!
So make sure there aren’t any rocks mixed into the soil where you plant these delicate perennials before adding water every time there’s precipitation coming down outside during the winter months because this will help prevent root rot disease which happens when too much water gets trapped between roots causing them damage over time.
Caring For Mints During The Winter
If you want your mints to stay fresh during the winter months, there are a few things you can do to keep them from dying:
1) Keep mints in a cool dry place. If you don’t have any room-temperature or dry areas in your house, try putting them in the refrigerator (though not too close to the door—you don’t want them getting frostbite).
2) Don’t put mints in direct sunlight—it can actually kill them! Instead, put your mints in indirect light or under artificial lights that mimic natural light.
3) Don’t let your mints go too long without water; they need moisture to survive! Watering your plants every few days will help keep them healthy through the winter months.
What Temperatures Will Kill Mints?
Mints are hardy plants, meaning they can tolerate cold temperatures. However, mints will not survive long periods of freezing temperatures.
Mint plants die when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and stays there for more than a week or two. The cold weather can be detrimental to mints because it will damage their roots, causing them to rot during the winter months.
Can I Overwinter Mints?
Yes! Mints can be overwintered, but it’s important to know how to do it properly.
First, you’ll need to find a place where they can stay dry, but also get plenty of light. If your mints are outside, make sure they have a lot of space and don’t have any trees shading them. You should also keep them away from any house vents or other sources of heat so they don’t get burnt.
Next, make sure the soil stays moist but not wet. If you’re growing your mints in pots, make sure you water them regularly—but don’t over-soak them! If you’re growing your mints in the ground, water them when the soil starts to feel dry about an inch below the surface.
Finally, trim back any dead leaves as needed and cut off any stems that look weak or unhealthy. Be sure not to cut off more than one-third of the plant at once or it might die!
Conclusion
If you have a mint plant, it can survive the winter as long as you take some steps to protect it from frost. If you don’t want to leave them outside, bringing them into the house or a greenhouse is the best option. This will help shelter them from the elements and get them ready for the spring.
