Rainline Garden

When to plant mint in Oregon and Washington

In Portland: Plant young mint plants Mar 15 – May 10. In Bend: May 12 – Jul 7. Find your city below.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
One plant per pot, or 18 inches apart
Planting depth
Plant at the depth it grew in the nursery pot
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
Pick lightly the first summer, then as much as you like

Spreads aggressively by underground runners, so grow it in a pot or a bottomless bucket sunk in the ground.

Mint planting dates by city

CityPlant in the garden
Astoria, ORApr 1 – May 27
Baker City, ORApr 27 – Jun 22
Bend and Redmond, ORMay 12 – Jul 7
Burns, ORMay 14 – Jul 9
Coos Bay and North Bend, ORApr 1 – May 27
Eugene, ORMar 15 – May 10
Gresham, ORMar 15 – May 10
Klamath Falls, ORMay 12 – Jul 7
Medford, ORMar 15 – May 10
Pendleton, ORApr 1 – May 27
Portland, ORMar 15 – May 10
Roseburg, ORMar 15 – May 10
Salem, ORMar 15 – May 10
The Dalles, ORApr 1 – May 27
Wilsonville and Canby, ORMar 15 – May 10
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WAApr 1 – May 27
Bellingham, WAMar 15 – May 10
Ellensburg, WAApr 15 – Jun 10
Everett, WAMar 15 – May 10
Forks, WAApr 1 – May 27
Moses Lake, WAApr 1 – May 27
Olympia, WAApr 1 – May 27
Omak and Okanogan, WAApr 15 – Jun 10
Seattle and Tacoma, WAMar 15 – May 10
Spokane, WAApr 15 – Jun 10
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WAApr 1 – May 27
Vancouver, WAMar 15 – May 10
Walla Walla, WAApr 1 – May 27
Wenatchee, WAApr 1 – May 27
Yakima, WAApr 10 – Jun 5

How to grow mint

  1. Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant young mint plants on your city's dates, One plant per pot, or 18 inches apart. Plant at the depth it grew in the nursery pot.
  3. Water regularly; mint likes moist soil. Cut it back hard in midsummer for a fresh flush of leaves.
  4. Harvest: Snip stems just above a pair of leaves. Regular cutting keeps plants bushy.

Varieties that do well in the Northwest

Watch out for

Mint spreads underground and takes over beds. Grow it in a container.

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