Peppermint question

[Bettacreek]

I accidentally let it choke itself out last year before repotting. Now it's growing in a ring around the pot (where roots could reach something other than more roots). I'm wondering if I can just flop the chunk of dirt out, whack the entire thing into quarters and replant it that way. I'm pretty sure it'll be ok, but want some reassurance! I am starting to see some really tiny plants in the middle, but they're sparce. If I can whack it apart, I'm sure I can get this stuff going really well again. I might even plant some in the ground (around the house, where I'm not worried about it overtaking anything).

 

[pinkfox]

should be fine.
water VERY VERY well before hand and then water well after, i generally like to keep my divided mint shaded for 24-48 hours after transplant to give it time to get over the shock.

 

[Wannabefree]

IME mints are about as hard to kill as hosta, and I have seen hosta survive nearly everything short of nuclear bombs. I'm no expert, but I think it'd be fine.

 

[Bettacreek]

Thanks guys! I've noticed that they're pretty hard to kill. It choked itself out, and I brought it indoors for winter, and the parents literally tossed it outside in the freezing cold. Still alive. The spearmint is like a damn bush growing, so that'll have to be repotted as well I'm trying to think of a cheap, but nice way to do some larger pots. Was thinking about those sterilite storage bins, but I want it to look good too. :/ Basically, I WANT my mints to grow large, so that I can do large harvests. I have some spearmint that I've microwaved and bagged. I'm looking for a tea ball so that I can make some mint teas and have enough over winter, PLUS hopefully put some in soaps and such.

 

[pinkfox]

the sterlits contrainers work well, dont ant them to look like plastic containers, esy, Sprypaint made for plastic. paint em up whatever color you want/will go with the decor, then get cretive with trim and such from the bargain bin at the home inprovment store and liquid nails...use various sizes in a group to disguise large expanse of container, just be sure to add plenty of drinage holes and a layer of peat gravel or drainage rocks in the bottom also helps keep it from getting water logged.

(im presonally of the mindset that paint glue and ducttape can solve the majority of problems lol.

 

[Bettacreek]

Awesome idea... That's what I'm going to do then! Will save me money on a planter, plus save money for tea and soap additions.

 

[ORChick]

My spearmint got planted in a large (18"? maybe) terra cotta pot when we moved here 10 years ago. It has been growing well for all that time. It dies back in winter, and comes back every spring. Sometimes I remember to pour some fertilizer on it, but often not. It gets benign neglect, and seems to thrive. It is in a semi shady spot, and within reach of the sprinklers, and seems to be just fine. Mints are really hard to kill. I bet it would take over the garden if I treated it better

 

[Bettacreek]

Ok, plant savy people... I'm wanting to do a "flat" for spinach, and I'm wondering... I have one of those under the bed containers. Can I grow spinach in that? I just want baby leaves, so it won't get too big. And, I know this is stretching it, but can I do lettuce in one of those as well?

 

[Dawn419]

I don't see why you couldn't do spinach and lettuce in one of thos containers, as long as you keep an eye on not letting the soil get too dry. Just make sure you add drainage holes to the bottom so the roots don't get too wet.

I'll try planting in anything, just to see if I can!