Rainline Garden

When to plant mint in Vancouver, WA

Plant young mint plants in Vancouver Mar 15 – May 10.

Easy Plant young plants

Why these dates

Vancouver's typical last spring frost is March 29. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the west-side valleys, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about March 15.

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

  1. Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant young mint plants Mar 15 – May 10, 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 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 Vancouver, WA?

Typically March 29. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 18. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Vancouver Pearson Field.

Is it too late to plant mint in Vancouver?

The spring planting window runs through May 10. 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 Vancouver around the same time

Planting dates for mint in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Vancouver · Mint in every city