When to Plant Mint in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
That soil figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 22:55 yesterday, not a model.
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Mint guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar 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 Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Grow from cuttings or divisions, and always in a container because it spreads. Most mints do not come true from seed.
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How to Grow Mint in Subtropical 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
Subtropical Growing Tips for Mint
Recommended Varieties
- Spearmint
- Peppermint
- Vietnamese mint
- Chocolate mint
Key Challenges
- WILL take over beds if planted in ground
- Rust in humid weather
Pro Tips
- Container growing ONLY
- Morning sun, afternoon shade
- Cut back hard monthly
Pests and problems for Mint in Subtropical
- 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
- 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 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 Brisbane?
Grow from cuttings or divisions, and always in a container because it spreads. Most mints do not come true from seed.
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 Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Spearmint, Peppermint, Vietnamese mint, Chocolate 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.