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Mentha spicata

Bush Mint · Spear Mint · Spearmint

Family LamiaceaeGenus Mentha

A shoot tip with pairs of pointed, toothed, strongly veined green leaves
LeafSimon Eugster --Simon 13:07, 2 July 2006 (UTC)CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Ground Cover, Herb, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China South-Central and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Its distinctive smell comes from R-(–)-carvone, the main compound in its oil. The Romans brought it to England by the 5th century. Wikipedia: Spearmint

Two sources report 5 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 23, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 22, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

80% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Mentha p. 58Public domain
Show the original text
Mentha (Lamiaceae). M. spicata germ. best in light, and this light requirement intensified on DS for 1 y. Fresh seed germ. 70L(85% in 1-4 w), 70D{ 34% in 1-3 w), 40-70L(42% in 1-4 w), and 40-70D(none) whereas seed DS 1 y germ. 70L(80% in 2nd w) and none in 70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Mentha p. 58. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Mentha p. 58Public domain
Show the original text
Mentha (Lamiaceae). M. spicata germ. best in light, and this light requirement intensified on DS for 1 y. Fresh seed germ. 70L(85% in 1-4 w), 70D{ 34% in 1-3 w), 40-70L(42% in 1-4 w), and 40-70D(none) whereas seed DS 1 y germ. 70L(80% in 2nd w) and none in 70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Mentha p. 58. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

85% germination in 7–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Mentha p. 178Public domain
Show the original text
Mentha (Lamiaceae). M. spicata germ. 70L(85% in 1-4 w), 70D(34% in 1-3 w), 40(2%)-70L(42% in 1-4 w) , and 40-70D(none). Experiments on
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Mentha p. 178. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 8, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    2 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 28 days.

42% germination in 7–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Mentha p. 178Public domain
Show the original text
Mentha (Lamiaceae). M. spicata germ. 70L(85% in 1-4 w), 70D(34% in 1-3 w), 40(2%)-70L(42% in 1-4 w) , and 40-70D(none). Experiments on
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Mentha p. 178. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

34% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Mentha p. 178Public domain
Show the original text
Mentha (Lamiaceae). M. spicata germ. 70L(85% in 1-4 w), 70D(34% in 1-3 w), 40(2%)-70L(42% in 1-4 w) , and 40-70D(none). Experiments on
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Mentha p. 178. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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