How to Start Mint From Seed
Mint is easy to start from seed, although seedlings may vary from named mint varieties. Because mint spreads aggressively, starting it in containers is often the simplest way to keep it contained.
Start indoors or direct sow?
Start mint indoors and transplant for an earlier harvest, or direct sow after frost in mild conditions. It tolerates transplanting well, but direct-sown seedlings can be slow and easily crowded by weeds.
When to start Mint seeds
For indoor starts, sow 6 to 8 weeks before the average last spring frost. For direct sowing, wait until after the last frost, when soil has warmed to about 60 F or more.
How to sow the seeds
Surface-sow mint seeds on moist sterile seed-starting mix, press them in lightly, and do not bury them because they need light to germinate. Use cells or small pots with drainage and cover lightly with a humidity dome only until emergence.
Germination
Mint usually germinates in about 7 to 14 days, though some seed lots take longer. Keep the mix consistently moist and warm, around 65 to 75 F, with bright light.
Seedling care
Give seedlings 14 to 16 hours of light under grow lights and water gently when the surface begins to dry. Thin to one or a few seedlings per cell, provide airflow, and avoid soggy mix to prevent damping off.
Transplanting & hardening off
Harden seedlings off over 7 to 10 days, then transplant after frost danger has passed into sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Plant in a pot or use a buried barrier if you do not want mint spreading through the bed.
Tips
Do not over-seed, because tiny mint seeds can create a crowded mat of weak seedlings. Pinch growing tips once plants are established to encourage bushier growth.
General seed-starting guidance for US home gardens; timing depends on your local frost dates and variety. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.