Spearmint

The fastest-growing, most-used herb — and the one that most needs containing.

Scientific name: Mentha spicata
Family: Mint family
Also known as: Mint

Herbs

Mint needs no selling: nearly every household grows it. The one thing to know before putting it straight in the ground is that it spreads by creeping underground runners and will take over its neighbours within a single season. The fix is simple: grow it in a container.

At a glance

Plant typePerennial herb
WateringTwice weekly
LightFull sun or part shade
Comfortable range0 – 35 °C
Height30 cm – 1.3 m
Spread1 – 1.5 m
HarvestSpring and autumn
Growth rateVery fast

Care guide

Watering

Twice a week at minimum — mint is among the thirstiest plants here and wilts fast when dry. Mulching cuts evaporation and holds soil moisture through summer.

Light and heat

Takes full sun or part shade. In a severe Saudi summer, afternoon shade gives larger, softer leaves that are far less prone to wilting.

Soil and feeding

Moist, rich soil. A balanced high-nitrogen feed monthly through the growing season, in small doses spread over the area, watering first so the roots don't burn.

Picking and pruning

Pick continuously from the top — it keeps the plant dense and delays flowering. Remove flower stems as soon as they appear, since flowering costs you leaf quality and flavour.

Propagation

Among the easiest plants to propagate: a stem cutting in water or moist soil roots within days.

In Saudi conditions

Always plant it in a container, or in ground confined by a buried barrier. Planted loose in a shared bed, it invariably owns the whole bed within a season.