Black Mitcham

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

A cool, darkly fragrant rush—Black Mitcham’s leaves release a deep, menthol-bright aroma with a rich, herbal undertone that lingers on the palate.

The foliage forms dense, upright clumps with velvety, medium-green leaves that hold their flavor beautifully for fresh use, drying, and steeping into aromatic infusions. Grow this standout mint for bold fragrance in teas, bright garnishes, and intensely flavored sauces and syrups.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Apr 4th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 13th
Harvest Begins	Aug 27th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	65
Min Soil Temp (°F)	55
Min Night Temp (°F)	45
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Black Mitcham is built for fragrance-first cooking—its oils pop fast and then hang around, which makes it ideal for brief steeping, last-minute chopping, and syrups that need a clean, cold finish.

Best Uses

fresh-tea steeping where you want a crisp, lingering coolness
chopped garnish for iced drinks, fruit, or chocolate (use near serving)
high-surface-area sauces and reductions for lamb and roasted root veg
intensely flavored syrups and julep-style drinks

Flavor Profile

deep menthol-bright aroma cooling, vivid minty bite herbal, slightly dark undertone aromatic oils that linger on the palate

Kitchen Pairings

lamb lemon honey Greek yogurt dark chocolate cucumber

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage mint rust or leaf spot on Mentha × piperita (Black Mitcham)?

Watch for orange/brown pustules or dark spotting on leaves, which are common on mints in humid, crowded plantings. Remove and discard infected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the base to keep foliage dry. If it keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide for edible herbs and spray according to the label right at first signs of symptoms.

How often should I water Black Mitcham during active growth, and what soil moisture target should I keep?

During the main growing period, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for the top 1 inch to feel slightly damp, not dry. In full sun, that typically means watering about 1–2 times per week depending on heat and container size, with deeper watering each time. Mulch lightly to reduce swings in moisture, since mint quickly declines when it repeatedly dries out.

When is Black Mitcham ready to harvest, and what should I look for?

Harvest about 70–90 days after planting, or once plants are well-established and producing plenty of side shoots. For best flavor, cut stems when there are many fully developed leaves but before flowering starts, usually as buds just begin to appear. You can take repeated harvests by cutting stems back by about one-third, which encourages fresh regrowth.