If you can find fresh ones,(in grocery stores, eg) just stick them in some sandy soil and keep it moist. They will root.

Even quicker than cuttings are entire plants! These can be obtained easily from friends or fellow-gardeners whenever they are repotting or getting rid of mint in the garden! It's called 'division' - dividing a plant into sections, each of which has some root attached. Stick it into some dirt, water in, and they're off to a flying start!

Mint can also be propagated by its runners - the bits that run along the surface of the ground (forming roots wherever they touch the soil), and also under the ground (the bits that seek out new territory to invade as well as forming new roots!).

There must be a WIDE variance of the strength of the oils present in mints. Here in GA mint in tea really helps to fight the summer heat. Trouble is that some peppermint seems virtually flavorless, while others seem to leap out of the glass with an aroma and taste that is there even befor drinking. Is that due to how they were cultivated, or due to different strains. Seems those with the bigger leaves are more powerful. I HAVE purchased them in the nurseries, but never quite seem to achieve those large and pungent leaves found in some restaurants, nor do those in the groceries or markets have that depth. Most I have found there have the small leaves with little to offer. I know it's easy to grow, but finding that first starter of the deeply aromatic, full flavored, large leaved varieties another matter entirely! For such a starter I would gladly ship some prime heirloom tomato plants. I have tried the variants such as apple, chocolate, and spearmint, but its just not the same as that deeply powerful peppermint as described. Even tried lemon balm and its just not the same in summer tea!

Mensplace, the amount of essential oil which a plant produces is directly influenced by the amount of sun it gets, and the amount of nutrients in the soil, and by the temperature at which a plant is grown (which usually means soil temperature).

Here in the subtropics of Australia, where we have fierce heat in the summer, and very mild winters, I find that my mints are best grown where they get full sun in the mornings, but filtered sun in the afternoons to prevent the leaves from burning. This way, I find the leaves are smaller, but they have a stronger flavour.

If grown in filtered sun or semi-shade, the leaves will get much larger, but they won't have much flavour. If grown in full sun, the leaves are much smaller, but they pack a punch of flavour.

The inference is that in cooler climates, you're never likely to get a strong flavour - but you will get larger, showier leaves.

My mints are all in pots, of course. I 'fertilise' them from time to time with handfuls of compost - and of course they get repotted at least twice a year, using fresh potting mix. Too much fertiliser will prevent the plant from working hard - so you'll get less flavour and aroma.

Wow, lots of good information here. Thanks, everyone! I knew you'd come thru for me. I am going mint hunting.

A few years ago, I was looking for mint in a local garden center. I checked the leaves of several different plants, and could barely taste them. I didnt even notice a difference in the ones labeled chocolate. My Lemon balm is the same way. I love the smell. It smells like lemon pledge, but vertually no lemon tatse for me. I would love to find some great tasting herb.
Tammy

Tammy - I think what you want is lemon verbena, not lemon balm (which is closer to a mint) - that, and 'sorrel' - a sort of hibiscus a friend from Jamaica turned me on to - are the two lemony-est of the herbs.

Another more-lemon-than-lemon herb might be difficult to find in America, because it's an Australian native, but if it's LEMON with oomph you want, this is the one! Lemon Myrtle, Backhousia citriodora. Very worth your while hunting up. I think it's much nicer than lemon verbena.

I have lemon verbena, lemon balm, lemongrass and lemons.....so I should get lemon myrtle to round out my lemony collection.

My mint is invasive and established here. I just treat it like a nicely scented, good tasting, insect repelling weed. Could be much worse. I just harvest rather 'aggressively' yanking it out instead of cutting it. This will teach it. It will always be there. I tilled the whole area and thought I had taken out every single little root. Ha ha! it laughed at me when it came between my corn and my squashes. It is between my artichokes now. Supposedly it repels ants too, does anyone know? It is ok, not too bad for a weed. I really love mint tea, and I also use it in tabouli, mint tamarind chutney, salad spring rolls...mojitos!

Also, does anyone know what causes white spots in my mint leaves? it happens in a few areas here and there. I was wondering not for the mint sake, but just to make sure I have no major soil deficiencies. Could it be a pH thing? I understand mint it likes alkaline soil.

Tammyinwv, give Lemon Basil a try too. I grew it from seed last year with great success. It has a true lemon flavor, and wonderful fragrance.

Also, does anyone know what causes white spots in my mint leaves? it happens in a few areas here and there. I was wondering not for the mint sake, but just to make sure I have no major soil deficiencies. Could it be a pH thing? I understand mint it likes alkaline soil.

As I know mint, it seems rather unperturbed by much. I'm sure it has a soil preference but will end up growing nearly anyplace in a temperate zone.

Powdery mildew is a problem that causes white spots. See link below.

FataMorgana

Here is a link that might be useful: Google images - powdery mildew

Linda, do you have some good, privately owned garden centers in your location? If so, you might find them very willing to special order some of the mints that you want. Not only will you be making a purchase, but they may find out that specialty mints are very popular with the rest of the public.

I've always found the locally owned garden center people to be very accommodating!

rhizo, we do have a couple of privately owned good garden centers here. They used to carry a larger variety of mint, but the last couple of years have only carried a very small selection and haven't seemed to be interested in obtaining any of the specialty mints. But, I'll keep visiting and asking!

My first thought upon reading the topic line was "More like, how to STOP mint!" :~) Good luck with all your varieties...they are a lovely, tasty, medicinal weed.

Thanks for the star_stuff, and daisyduckworth. I will see about locating them. I did smell lemon thyme the other day, and tome it didnt even have a hint of lemon.

What about the other supposedly "flavored" mints, such as chocolate etc? Any of those actually "Taste"?
Tammy

Well, you know, 'taste' is a very subjective thing. To me, Chocolate Mint tastes quite strongly of a chocolate mint patty - but I've known many people who don't 'get' the chocolate at all.

On the other hand, I've never known anybody to miss the 'apple' in Apple Mint, or the 'basil' in Basil Mint, which is more basil-y than mint-y. The Menthol Mint is quite startlingly like Vicks Vapor-Rub! And there's no mistaking hte Eau-de-Cologne Mint.

The taste and aroma of plants is very dependent on soil conditions, on the amount of sun a plant gets and on the climate in general. Here in the subtropics, where we get fierce sun and HOT heat, my mints get a very strong smell and taste - the heat encourages the plant to produce more of those essential oils. Also, my lemon thyme is very strongly thyme-plus-lemon. In a cooler climate, less of the essential oil is produced, and that results in a more wishy-washy, less clearly-defined flavour and aroma.

Also, if you over-feed your plants, they will become lazy and not produce those essential oils so much. Make them work harder for their living, for better results!

Wal Mart, Home Depot and Lowes have always carried the chocolate here in AZ. Have you looked in these places if you have them?

JoJo

Fatamorgana, thanks for the answer and the link. It is not mildew. The spots are small and round, more like accidentally sprinkling bleach over one's jeans. It looks a little like stink bug damage, but I have never seen stink bugs on the mint, so I doubt it is that. I only see bees on the mint when it flowers, and lots of them! By the way the type is just plain spearmint. It does have a wonderful strong scent/flavor. Now I am intrigued by apple mint, after reading this thread.

FYI re applemint, it seems to be fuzzier than other mints. Also, my friend was turned off on using it - it tasted too strongly of catnip to him. I got the same flavor but didn't mind it so much. I didn't think to ask my cats their opinion.

As for growing mint from the seeds I also tried to do it but in vain, then I learnt that I was cheated, because mint does not grow from seeds, its seeds are infertile, I was sold officially infertile seeds, which didn't sprout. I learnt that mints are spreading by shoots only, so I went to the local garden store and chose the most flavourful mint from the range, it was Swiss mint, I also liked Indian mint, the pepper mint had almost no flavour.