Will mint survive Wisconsin winters?

dk54321 9/7/2014, 5:39 pm

I bought a peppermint plant in a 3" pot this spring, and put it in a 5 gal bucket. It has filled the bucket, and grown 18" tall. I know Mel says to bring the bucket inside over the winter, but I don't have room. If I leave it outside, will it survive the winter and grow back?

CapeCoddess 9/7/2014, 5:53 pm

I don't know what you winters are like but we hit -5 last winter and all my mints came back & then some...even the chocolate mint in the margarine tub that has been outside over 4 yes now with no drainage holes. The stuff is like a weed...keep it contained like you are or live to rue the day that you let it out. How do I know this??? Rolling Eyes

CC

**camprn** 9/7/2014, 6:12 pm

Mint will do fine in your climate. I strongly suggest transplanting it into a shallower pot and setting that pot into the ground before the ground freezes and for sure you will have mint next year.

Marc Iverson 9/7/2014, 6:14 pm

I can't imagine too much mint, because I can eat it and turn it into tea even faster than it grows. ;D

Ours survived here to 8 degrees, but that's not Wisconsin type temps.

dk54321 9/7/2014, 6:21 pm

We usually get at least some subzero temps here. -5 to -10 is typical. Our record low is -27. Don't get me started about the windchills we had Jan 2014!

Re: Mint, here's a thought—what if I set the bucket in my compost bin when I fill it with fall leaves? Come spring, I can easily pull it out and move it back to the porch , so we have fresh mint leaves next to the kitchen door again.

**camprn** 9/7/2014, 6:32 pm

That would do it.

Marc Iverson 9/7/2014, 6:37 pm

You could also take a few cuttings and wait for one or two to root, then keep them indoors in the winter in small pots. Then even if you lose the main plant, or don't want to go to any real trouble to preserve it, you'll still have a plant or two come spring.

Mints are wonderfully tough, so even a little plant should be able to survive less than ideal conditions through an indoor winter and come out strong in the spring.

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Will mint survive Wisconsin winters?

Will mint survive Wisconsin winters?

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