In the heat of summer, strawberry mint smells absolutely incredible. But here’s the best part: you don’t have to say goodbye to those fragrant leaves and flowers once the weather cools down. You can actually harvest this herb all year round! Strawberry mint is super versatile and handles the winter like a champ, whether you keep it in the garden or bring it inside to your windowsill. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your mint happy until spring.
Wintering Strawberry Mint on Your Windowsill
If you want fresh mint for your tea or desserts all winter long, moving a pot to your windowsill is the way to go. Pick a spot that gets bright, indirect light (a little partial shade is fine, too). The biggest trick is keeping the soil consistently moist—this herb hates drying out, especially with the dry air from indoor heating.
Just a heads-up: since strawberry mint is naturally a hardy outdoor plant, it actually loves a bit of a “winter nap.” While it’ll grow indoors, it usually comes back even stronger the following year if it gets some time outside. Try to move it back to your balcony or patio as soon as the weather allows.
Keeping Strawberry Mint Safe Outdoors
Good news: strawberry mint is quite hardy and usually handles the cold just fine. If your winter temperatures stay above 25°F (-4°C), you don’t really need to do anything special. However, if a real cold snap hits, you’ll want to give it a little extra TLC. Here’s my quick checklist for frost protection:
- Cut the herb back close to the ground in the fall.
- Cover the soil with a cozy layer of straw, pine branches, or brushwood.
- Don’t forget to give it a little water on days when the ground isn’t frozen.
If your mint is in a container rather than a garden bed, a great trick is to “sink” the pot—basically, dig a hole and bury the whole container in the ground to insulate the roots. If you’re expecting a truly brutal, record-breaking winter, that’s the only time I’d recommend bringing your potted mint indoors for safety.
