When to Plant Mint in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Sow September to December. Right now in September you can sow.
Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Mint guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Vigorous, versatile, and INVASIVE. Always grow in containers. Spearmint (M. spicata) is standard culinary. Peppermint (M. x piperita) for teas. Vietnamese mint (Persicaria odorata) is NOT a true mint but fills a similar niche in warm climates. All true mints spread aggressively by underground runners.
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | S | S/T/D | S/T/D | T/D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 11.2°C (optimal range: 21–24°C) ✗ Outside optimal range
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Mint in Cold / Highland Australia
When to Plant
Plant Oct-Dec. Fully dormant in winter.
- Soil
- Rich, moist soil with plenty of organic matter.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Part shade to full sun. Morning sun, afternoon shade in hot zones.
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 30cm between rows
- Watering
- Regular, generous watering. Daily in pots in summer.
Companion plants: Tomato, Cabbage
Avoid planting near: Parsley
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Mint
Recommended Varieties
- Spearmint (most cold-hardy)
- Peppermint
Key Challenges
- Short season
Pro Tips
- Survives hard frosts from established crowns
- Protect containers from freezing solid
Harvesting Mint
When ready: Harvest once stems 10cm+ tall.
How to harvest: Cut stems to 5cm above soil. Entire plant can be cut to ground. Regrows in 2-3 weeks.
Common Mint Pests in Cold / Highland Zones
Organic prevention: Good air circulation. Vigorous plants resist aphids.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon Questions About Mint
When do you plant mint in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jul to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Jul
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan, Aug to Dec
Does mint grow all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.