Spearmint is another variety of mint, and is just as aromatic, if not more! Spearmint herbs are one of the most popular varieties of mint grown in home gardens and herb gardens, and it is quite easy to grow with minimal care. Spearmint has many medicinal qualities as well, including reducing the effects of nausea, motion sickness, and irritable bowel syndrome. It’s most recognizable use is in the culinary arts field, where it is used for flavoring on meats, fish, and vegetables.

So you’ve decided to plant spearmint in your garden? According to our research on spearmint, you can plant anything nearby!

Spearmint, like most mints, has the potential to take over an entire garden bed because of it’s runners that spread out as it grows. Spearmint is a good candidate for a single raised bed, a window box, or a pot, so the herb can freely grow out of its container without crowding other plants. Plant your spearmint seedling in an area that receives direct sun. In areas with intense sunlight, a sunshade or tarp should be used to protect the spearmint leaves from burning during the hottest parts of the day. Place seedling 2 to 3 feet apart and sow them about a quarter inch below the surface of the soil. Weekly watering of one inch is all that is required.

When harvesting spearmint, simply pinch off the leaves at the stem. Regular harvesting of spearmint leaves is vital to the health and future production of the herb. While it’s culinary uses are widely documented, spearmint also has utility as a companion plant in the home garden. It’s aroma and flowers not only attracts pollinators, but the scent also acts as a deterrent for pests like ants, flies, and fleas.