Mint has roots that will run underground. The plant can spread and become a right proper nuisance. Not surprisingly it is propagated by root cutting or division.

One favourite trick is to grow it in sections of sewage or drainage pipe. Cut a piece of pipe obtained from a builders merchant in to various lengths and bury at least a third of the pipe in the ground. The sections can be filled with compost and planted up with mint and other herbs at different heights.

Other tips

• Grow the mint in a bottomless bucket or a grow bag. Pot some up and grow in doors or do like the rest of us and let it grow naturally.
• There are several varieties of mint some of which are quite showy with green and yellow, green and white and purple tinged leaves.
• I like ginger mint which grows bushy and about 2′ tall.
• Moroccan mint makes a good mint tea and peppermint is always popular
• Apple mint with rounded leaves, also known as ‘Bowles Mint’ has a better flavour than common mint Mentha spitaca.
• Leaves fall in winter but can be dried or preserved in vinegar