[missycat]

I'd like to sink a pot into my herb bed to grow traditional spearmint.

Can anyone advise me on what size (depth) of pot will I need to stop the mint roots escaping from the hole at the bottom?

Thanks.

[m1ckz]

they seem to get though anything,,an they go pretty deep

[sunshineband]

Mint roots mainly form a surface/just under the surface mat, so don't dive down very far. The greater risk is that they would climb out over the rim of the pot tbh  

A pot about 12 ins across, nine inches deep, with the rim an inch above the ground is what I have mine in at home.

At the plot it goes mad  

[DD.]

I agree with Sunny. They go across more than down.

[JayG]

I agree with DD and Sunny! 

I do find they need repotting every year when grown in a pot (a few shoots will be enough) because they tend to form a twisted mat of shoots and roots about 4" thick when grown this way which chokes future growth (they also dry out more quickly than when in open ground.)

[missycat]

Wow I'm amazed at how quickly people responded, thank you.
I'm just clearing a new herb bed at the allotment and drawing up a  planting plan for Spring.

I've got an old plastic pot about 12" deep and 18" circumference so sounds like it should suffice.
I'll put one plant in the middle of the pot and have the secateurs handy for any shoots that look like they're heading for the edge  .

[sunshineband]

That sounds perfect missycat 

[rufty]

I do find they need repotting every year when grown in a pot (a few shoots will be enough) because they tend to form a twisted mat of shoots and roots about 4" thick when grown this way which chokes future growth (they also dry out more quickly than when in open ground.)

I've noticed this.
What do you do with the soil/compost from the pot that is full of mint roots though, it seems a shame the throw it away but I dare not put it on the compost or anywhere else in the garden. Up until now I've been chucking it in the bath that I use to rot down weeds in but if there's a better thing to do with it...

[sunshineband]

I do find they need repotting every year when grown in a pot (a few shoots will be enough) because they tend to form a twisted mat of shoots and roots about 4" thick when grown this way which chokes future growth (they also dry out more quickly than when in open ground.)

I've noticed this.
What do you do with the soil/compost from the pot that is full of mint roots though, it seems a shame the throw it away but I dare not put it on the compost or anywhere else in the garden. Up until now I've been chucking it in the bath that I use to rot down weeds in but if there's a better thing to do with it...

That's about the measure of it Rufty -- there are only so many peole you can give mint roots too 

[JayG]

I daresay Ray Mears has a delicious recipe for mint-root casserole cooked over a camp fire, but it has yet to come to my attention!

I don't find that the roots take up all the pot space so after shaking the soil out I only need to top up about a third of the space with soil/old compost/a bit of fertiliser.

As for disposal, when you've run out of friends, drowning sounds like a good way to prepare them for the compost heap (albeit a bit ungrateful!) 

[Sadgit]

I thought i had gotten rid of all my Mint a few years ago.. ohhh no I haven't.. impossible for me to get rid of it

[gavinjconway]

I thought i had gotten rid of all my Mint a few years ago.. ohhh no I haven't.. impossible for me to get rid of it

It's a weed - but more tasty with mutton..! 

[Sadgit]

I thought i had gotten rid of all my Mint a few years ago.. ohhh no I haven't.. impossible for me to get rid of it

It's a weed - but more tasty with mutton..! 

not if you are a veggie

[gavinjconway]

Totally off the subject... sorry 

Hey Sadgit... Been looking at your blog web... Antelope park was in our back garden - almost.. We lived the other side of town from the park and were great friends with the Connollys. My boys went to school with their kids!! what a small world!! 

[Sadgit]

wow... very small world!! Very nice people and Jonathan is turning into a nice man
Was brilliant with us after I burned down 50% of the park

We love the project, hence my wife is travelling to Zambia to discuss working for them (UK Based) in 2 weeks.. I would love to move over there.