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Growing mint in a low trough
adamadamant
Posts: 278
in Plants
Hi I have a long trough which is 20 cm deep but only 10cm high. Can anyone tell me if mint will be OK growing in compost as shallow as this? Thanks
0
Posts
10cm is 4 inches in old-speak. I think the watering needs would prevent you leaving the premises for more than 4 hours in summer . 20cm is barely enough but I'm having a problem with the difference between depth and height. In my mind a planter that is 10cm high is 10cm deep. But that sort of thing isn't what I'm good at
Last edited: 23 April 2017 19:35:21
In the sticks near Peterborough
Ah yes that is confusing! The trough will only have four inches depth of compost. So you think it will dry out too quickly . Yes, you're probably right, I could manage watering on a daily basis, but it might matter if we werent around for a bit. Will re-think! Many thanks
You can put it in a container (tray) of water if you're not around enough. It's hard stuff to kill though!
A pot would be better. Round saucers are easier to find for sitting them in.
It'll also cope with shade anyway, so putting in a bit of shade during hot spells will help prevent water loss. Any old garden soil too rather than compost.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I agree 10cm is too shallow for mint - for reasons given above.
If you want to use the trough for herbs you'd probably be ok with chives and thymes
My mint escaped and is growing in the cement floor of the yard , it is growing round my planters so probably gets the run off from them , I have tried to get rid of it , but it comes back
I grow my mint in deep ceramic pots to help retain and provide enough moisture but they need a daily watering in warm weather. I would use your shallow trough as a water bath for birds if it has no drainage holes - just put in a few decorative stones for them to sit on and climb out again. If it does have holes, fill it with gritty compost and grow alpines or thymes if you want herbs.