Mentha Strawberry, also known as Mentha spicata subsp. citrata 'Strawberry,' is a cultivar of perennial herb mint. This unique variety offers a fruity, sweet aroma and flavor. This plant has an upright habit of 12-24" tall and wide, with lilac flowers blooming June-July. Mentha Strawberry is hardy in zones 4-10, offering foliage that attracts bees, butterflies, and ladybugs and is effortless to grow. It flourishes in full sun with plenty of water and excels in containers. This plant's leaves are a delicious addition to fruit salad, ice cream, and refreshing summer tea.
Mentha Strawberry Selling Tips
Sell Mentha Strawberry to customers looking for a unique mint variety to add to the herb garden. This variety has an upright habit and lilac flowers in June and July, attracting pollinators and beneficial insects to the landscape. Hardy in zone 4-10, this mint requires little more than regular water to flourish in a sunny container or landscape. Customers enjoy the earthy, sweet strawberry aroma, and the flavor is well-suited for pairing with fruit and ice cream and making tea.
Coach Your Customer
1. Plant mint in well-drained soil in full sun or part shade.
2. If you choose to plant mint in the garden or landscape, prevent it from spreading by planting it in a container first and then burying the container. Mint spreads aggressively underground via rhizomes.
3. Mint foliage offers the best fragrance and flavor before the plant blooms. Dry or freeze leaves to preserve them for later use.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Mentha Strawberry, plant one rooted liner per 4-inch container. Use a well-drained soil with a constant feed program of 150-200 ppm N on well-rooted plants and a pH of 5.8-6.2. We recommend an additional iron supplement to deepen the foliage color. Pinch once 5-10 days after transplant. You may see whiteflies, aphids, and mealybugs. This plant isn't prone to disease, but root rot can develop in overly wet conditions.
Flowering
Lilac flowers bloom in June-July.
Pinching
Pinch once, 5-10 days after transplanting.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base of each plant. We don't recommend planting Mint in 1801s, as this plant will get leggy and develop fungus without enough space.
Height Control
We don't recommend using chemical growth regulators on herbs.
Pests
You may see whiteflies, aphids, and mealybugs.
Disease
Mentha Strawberry isn't prone to disease, but root rot or botrytis can develop in overly moist conditions. Take these steps to prevent infection: water in the morning and allow the plant to dry out between waterings; provide good airflow in your greenhouse; space plants so the sun can penetrate to the soil level. To best fight root rot in herbs, use a garden-safe fungicide, like Neem Oil.
Planting Mentha Strawberry Liners
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4-inch container. Use a well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the container.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Herb Mentha Strawberry Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 6-8 Weeks |
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| Bloom Period | Summer |
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| Color | Purple |
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| Habit | Upright |
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| Height | 12-24 inches |
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| Light | Full Sun |
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| Minimum Temp | 50 |
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| Perennial Zone | Zones 4-10 |
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| Water Needs | Moderate |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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