Could it be that on a warm day aromatic oils from one plant get in the air and land on a plant nearby ... not changing it's nature, but transferring the scent from one to another in a temporary way?
Just a thought ........
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Oops again, sorry raisingirl. Sometimes the thoughts in my head don't come out right when I type it out . I was meaning a cross pollination of plants, making seeds that would make a new plant, a mix of it's parents. That I can understand
I'm interested in the reason behind why they change scent/flavour when planted close together. That's the mystery ???
I can't find anything online about it . In fact, this thread came top of my search results.
I heard a talk by Jekka at this years Malvern Show, and she was asked about this. She said that if 2 or more mints were planted in the same bed the roots will merge together .... and the mints lose their distinctive smell / flavour.
Nobody asked about pots in close proximity .... but from what I heard I guess this would be OK. So I think what Monty's doing will be fine.
Hope this helps.
Bee
P.S - great bee plant by the way if you allow it to flower ... valuable late nectar source.
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I had just potted up several mints in the same container when I saw Monty on last week's GW, I can still move some of them, but I do like the variegated look of chocolate, apple, and strawberry mint together.
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Could it be that on a warm day aromatic oils from one plant get in the air and land on a plant nearby ... not changing it's nature, but transferring the scent from one to another in a temporary way?
Just a thought ........
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Or do roots of one crossing another cause some intermingling of the essential oils?
I know what you mean Nut. If I hadn't seen it with my own nose....
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Oops again, sorry raisingirl. Sometimes the thoughts in my head don't come out right when I type it out
. I was meaning a cross pollination of plants, making seeds that would make a new plant, a mix of it's parents. That I can understand 
I'm interested in the reason behind why they change scent/flavour when planted close together. That's the mystery ???
I can't find anything online about it
. In fact, this thread came top of my search results.
Hi Folks,
I heard a talk by Jekka at this years Malvern Show, and she was asked about this. She said that if 2 or more mints were planted in the same bed the roots will merge together .... and the mints lose their distinctive smell / flavour.
Nobody asked about pots in close proximity .... but from what I heard I guess this would be OK. So I think what Monty's doing will be fine.
Hope this helps.
Bee
P.S - great bee plant by the way if you allow it to flower ... valuable late nectar source.
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I suppose that roots can merge ..... rather like some branches can fuse when trees are pleached.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I had just potted up several mints in the same container when I saw Monty on last week's GW, I can still move some of them, but I do like the variegated look of chocolate, apple, and strawberry mint together.
Maybe next time I plant mint!
all a load of nothing I think DP, enjoy what you've planted
In the sticks near Peterborough