Mint

Perfect for beginning gardeners, mint is the easiest of all herbs to grow, a perennial hardy in Zones 4-9. In addition to flavoring food and drinks, it serves as a natural pest deterrent in the vegetable, herb, or flower garden, and chewing the leaves not only freshens the breath but is said to calm an upset stomach.

Choosing a Mint Variety

Native to the Mediterranean, the genus Mentha has parented more than 3,500 varieties. By far the most commonly grown in this country are spearmint (M. spicata) and peppermint (M. x piperita). Both are super easy to grow, taking off like crazy to perfume home or garden all season.

When to Start Mint Seeds

For spring planting, mint seeds can be started indoors in late winter or direct-sown in the warm spring soil. But as a hardy perennial, they can be started anytime until about 2 months before the first frost of fall, or year-round for indoor use.