When to Plant Mint in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Plant September to November. Right now in October you can plant.

Planting window
Plant runners or divisions in spring, ideally in a pot or contained bed as it spreads. It dies down in winter and returns each spring.
Days to harvest
30 days
Sunlight
Part shade to full sun. Morning sun, afternoon shade in hot zones.
Water needs
Regular, generous watering. Daily in pots in summer.
Spacing
30cm apart, 30cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.0

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
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.

Mint

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.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - P P P -

P = Planting window

Plant runners or divisions in spring, ideally in a pot or contained bed as it spreads. It dies down in winter and returns each spring.

Want a nudge when it is Mint sowing time in Canberra?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Mint included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.4°C (optimal range: 21–24°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Mint in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Plant runners or divisions in spring, ideally in a pot or contained bed as it spreads. It dies down in winter and returns each spring.

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

Aphids and Mildew, risk: LOW (score: 39/100)

Organic prevention (Aphids): Good air circulation. Vigorous plants resist aphids.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What mint costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this October: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Cucumber.

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Common 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:

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.