Zone 5 · Herbs Growing Guide

When to Plant Mint
in Zone 5

Incredibly vigorous — grows in a container or it will take over your garden. Plant it in a buried pot or raised bed with barriers. Perennial in most zones. Harvest before flowering for best flavour.

Plant outdoors
Apr 15 – May 15
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Apr 15
Days to harvest
90–120 days
Difficulty
Easy
Growing — Zone 5
Harvest window: May – Nov

Planting Calendar

In Zone 5, Mint should be planted outdoors Apr 15 – May 15, after the average last frost date of approximately Apr 15.

Perennial. Container planting recommended — spreads aggressively by runners underground.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Partial shade to full sun · 3–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
18–24 inches
Soil
Rich, moist, well-draining
Days to maturity
90–120 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
plant tip · Zone 5

Perennial. Container planting recommended — spreads aggressively by runners underground.

Feeding Schedule

How often
twice a season
Feed type
balanced (10-10-10)
Key timing
spring and midsummer

Vigorous grower that rarely needs much feeding. Two feeds a year is plenty. Grow in containers to prevent spreading.

Companion Planting for Mint

What you plant next to mint makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Brassicas
  • Peas
  • Tomatoes
Keep away from
  • Chamomile
  • Parsley

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Common questions

In Zone 5, direct sow mint outdoors Apr 15 – May 15 after your last frost date of approximately Apr 15. Perennial. Container planting recommended — spreads aggressively by runners underground.
Zone 5 has an average last spring frost of approximately Apr 15 and a first fall frost around Oct 15. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for mint include Brassicas, Peas, Tomatoes. Avoid planting near Chamomile, Parsley, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Mint typically takes 90–120 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 5. Expected harvest window: May – Nov.

Free app · iOS February 2028

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Mint in other zones
Crop Guides