Rainline Garden
When to plant mint in Olympia, WA
Plant young mint plants in Olympia Apr 1 – May 27.
Why these dates
Olympia's typical last spring frost is April 29. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.
West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.
- 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
Step by step
- Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
- Plant young mint plants Apr 1 – May 27, One plant per pot, or 18 inches apart. Plant at the depth it grew in the nursery pot.
- Water regularly; mint likes moist soil. Cut it back hard in midsummer for a fresh flush of leaves.
- Harvest: Snip stems just above a pair of leaves. Regular cutting keeps plants bushy.
Varieties that do well here
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- Mojito mint
Watch out for
Mint spreads underground and takes over beds. Grow it in a container.
Spreads aggressively by underground runners, so grow it in a pot or a bottomless bucket sunk in the ground.
Common questions
When is the last frost in Olympia, WA?
Typically April 29. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Olympia Airport.
Is it too late to plant mint in Olympia?
The spring planting window runs through May 27. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.
How long until I can pick mint?
Pick lightly the first summer, then as much as you like. Snip stems just above a pair of leaves. Regular cutting keeps plants bushy.
Also plant in Olympia around the same time
Peas
Radishes
Spinach
Lettuce
Onions
Carrots
Beets
KalePlanting dates for mint in nearby areas
- Portland, OR Mar 15 – May 10
- Gresham, OR Mar 15 – May 10
- Wilsonville and Canby, OR Mar 15 – May 10
- Salem, OR Mar 15 – May 10
- Eugene, OR Mar 15 – May 10
- Roseburg, OR Mar 15 – May 10