When to Plant Mint in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Mint guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to Apr, Aug to Nov
- Days to harvest
- 30 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Vigorous, versatile, and INVASIVE. Always grow in containers. Spearmint (M. spicata) is standard culinary. Peppermint (M. x piperita) for teas.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Grow from runners or divisions, as seed is not true to type. Keep it in a pot because it spreads. It dies back in winter and regrows in spring.
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How to Grow Mint in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Rich, moist soil with plenty of organic matter.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- 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.
- Good companions
- Tomato, Cabbage, Garden Cress, Apple, Galangal
- Keep away from
- Banana, Cherry, Lemongrass, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Mint
Recommended Varieties
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- Apple mint
Key Challenges
- Winter dormancy
Pro Tips
- Container growing recommended
- Returns reliably each spring
Pests and problems for Mint in Cool Temperate
- Aphids and Mildew Moderate
- Mint Rust Good air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Divide and repot regularly. Watch
Organic prevention (Aphids): Good air circulation. Vigorous plants resist aphids.
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.
Storing and preserving mint
How to keep it
- Freezing in ice cubes. Chop leaves, freeze in ice cube trays with water. Keeps: 6 months.
- Drying for tea. Bundle stems, hang in dark dry place 1-2 weeks. Mint dries well, retains good flavour. Keeps: 12 months.
- Mint sauce/jelly. Chop mint, combine with sugar, white wine vinegar, boiling water. Classic with lamb. Keeps: 6 months (jelly), 2 weeks (sauce).
- Mint syrup. Simmer 2 cups mint in 2 cups sugar + 2 cups water 10 min. Strain. For mojitos and desserts. Keeps: 4 weeks refrigerated.
What mint costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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- Full salt and canning detail
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:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Sep
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Apr, Aug to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Apr, Aug to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Aug to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Aug to Nov
When should I plant Mint in Melbourne?
Grow from runners or divisions, as seed is not true to type. Keep it in a pot because it spreads. It dies back in winter and regrows in spring.
What soil temperature do Mint need?
Mint germinate best when soil temperature is between 21°C and 24°C.
How do I know when Mint are ready to harvest?
Harvest once stems 10cm+ tall.
What are the best Mint varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Spearmint, Peppermint, Apple mint.
What grows well with Mint?
Good companion plants for Mint include: Tomato, Cabbage, Garden Cress, Apple, Galangal.
Are mint salt tolerant?
Only a little. Mint are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.