Can mint survive winter outdoors?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.The winter hardiness of mint is contingent upon the variety, and how you prepare (or fail to prepare) your mint for winter. Most varieties are hardy to -20°F (-29°C) in USDA hardiness zones 3-8, with proper mulch for the winter. My peppermint survives winter in Zone 5, where I always have more snow covering it, while my pineapple mint grows in Zone 7, so it does need protection as the temperatures dip below that zone. The roots are much hardier than the warmth-sensitive top leaves.
Ground Planting
- 6-inch mulch layer of straw or leaves
- Apply after first hard frost
- Avoid compacted snow over crowns
Container Care
- Move to unheated garage or shed
- Bury pots in garden soil up to rim
- Water monthly if above freezing
....Container strategies help to prevent root mortality from extreme cold. I overwinter 12 pots by stacking them in buried trash cans lined with foam boards. This proximity keeps the soils between 25-35°F (-4 to 2°C) and allows me to store woody and herbaceous plants in dormancy.
Assessment
- Check for flexible brown stems
- Scratch root crowns - green means life
- Remove mulch gradually over 7 days
Recovery
- Prune dead growth to 1" above soil
- Apply 1/4-strength fish emulsion
- Increase sun exposure incrementally
Zone 3 gardeners share their successful use of thermal blankets over mint patches. I use hoops with burlap covers over my spearmint, which creates air pockets and prevents ice damage. New shoots develop three weeks earlier than mint plants lacking protective coverings.
Read the full article: How to Grow Mint: Expert Tips for Thriving Plants
