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Mint roots

rlewrlew Posts: 73
in Problem solving
So I've got 2 mint cuttings in a jar of water which have got roots on each, when do I plant them into soil please? The roots are about an inch long from 1 of the 2 nodes on each plant. 

Posts

  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    If they have visible roots then they should be good to plant in soil but maybe keep them somewhere sheltered and a bit shaded initially so they are less likely to dry out. Better to keep mint in containers as it will spread rapidly if planted in open ground.

    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I agree mint needs to stay in a pot the roots go everywhere.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I usually first plant my water-rooted mints into a 3in pot with peat-like compost.  I plant these out when these are well-established.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @rlew If you are growing this as part of a herb garden, you could sink your pot in the ground. You will still need to check regularly, if roots are seen at the surface around the edge of the pot you will need to lift the pot. Not only will it be pot bound and unable to take up water the white fleshy roots will be through the bottom of the pot and into the ground.
    Picking mint regularly will stop it going to seed and you can freeze it for sauces. If it does flower you can cut it back and it will soon regrow.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Even though it's a real thug @rlew , your plants will still need to be a reasonable size to plant them out.  :)
    Pot them up and let them develop a decent sized root system, then plant out using the precautions mentioned - a container, or a pot sunk in the ground.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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