When to Plant Vietnamese Mint in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
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 Vietnamese 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
- Nov to Dec
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
Vietnamese mint, also called laksa leaf, is a spreading perennial herb with peppery, citrusy leaves. It is not a true mint. It loves warm, moist, part shaded spots and grows all year in the tropics and subtropics.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov T
- Dec T
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Vietnamese Mint included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Vietnamese Mint in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Moist, rich soil with well rotted manure or compost (Rob Pyne). Daleys says it tolerates a wide range of soils. Use a free draining mix in pots.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Part shade (Diggers). Rob Pyne says full sun for cuttings. Protect it from hot afternoon sun in hot dry areas (Diggers).
- Spacing
- 30cm apart
- Watering
- Keep the soil moist. Water regularly in the dry season and mulch the base (Rob Pyne). Daleys says a customer found it does not need constant watering, but large leaves want a very moist position.
- Good companions
- Coriander, Lemongrass, Ginger
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Vietnamese Mint
Recommended Varieties
- Vietnamese mint
Key Challenges
- Frost
- Cold wet winters
- Slow growth
Pro Tips
- Keep a rooted cutting indoors as insurance
- Use a sheltered, sunny spot
- Do not overwater in winter
Pests and problems for Vietnamese Mint in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Vietnamese Mint
When ready: Pick once the plant is established and has plenty of leafy stems.
How to harvest: Cut with scissors back to the woody stems, which encourages leafier regrowth (Rob Pyne). Pick frequently to keep the plant compact (Diggers).
Storing and preserving vietnamese mint
How to keep it
- Freeze or dry. No Australian source read. Best used fresh in laksa, salads and rice paper rolls.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Vietnamese Mint
When do you plant vietnamese mint in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Apr, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
Can you grow vietnamese mint all year round in Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Nov to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Vietnamese Mint in Melbourne?
Frost tender (Real World Gardener) and not suited to cooler areas outdoors in winter. Grow it in a pot, plant out in late spring and bring it under cover or indoors before frost.
How do I know when Vietnamese Mint are ready to harvest?
Pick once the plant is established and has plenty of leafy stems.
What are the best Vietnamese Mint varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Vietnamese mint.
What grows well with Vietnamese Mint?
Good companion plants for Vietnamese Mint include: Coriander, Lemongrass, Ginger.
Are vietnamese mint salt tolerant?
Only a little. Vietnamese 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.