Herbs & Spices Medicinal & Edible Edible Container Friendly

Everything You Need to Know About Mint — Care, Propagation & More

Your complete Filipino gardener’s guide to growing, caring for, and harvesting Yerba Buena — from seed to table.

Filipino Yerba Buena Scientific Mentha × villosa / Clinopodium douglasii
DifficultyEasy
📅
Days to HarvestLeaves ready 30 days after planting
🏡
ContainerYes
🌞
SunlightPartial shade preferred
🍴

What Can You Eat?

Discover the edible parts and how Filipinos enjoy this plant in everyday cooking.

Edible Parts
🥬 Leaf
🍳
How It’s Eaten in Philippine Cuisine

Yerba buena tea for headache, stomach ache, and colds. DOH-approved as herbal medicine. Used in some Filipino dishes for fragrance and as garnish.

🇵🇭
Cultural Significance in the Philippines

Yerba buena tea is a household remedy in Filipino homes — boiled with calamansi for colds. DOH-approved as one of 10 medicinal plants. Easy to propagate from cuttings; perfect for kitchen window pots.

🌱

Germination Guide

From seed to sprout — here’s what to expect and how to get started.

Cuttings root in 7-14 days
Days to Germinate
20-30°C
Ideal Temperature
Stem cuttings (very easy)
Method
Step-by-Step Timeline
1
Take 10 cm stem cuttings from healthy plant.
2
Strip lower leaves.
3
Place in glass of water; roots in 1 week.
4
Transplant to soil.
🪴

Planting Instructions

Everything you need to prepare — soil, spacing, depth, and the best Philippine planting months.

🪴
Soil Type
Loamy, well-drained, moist
⚗️
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
↔️
Spacing
30 cm between plants
⬇️
Sowing Depth
Push cuttings 5 cm deep
🪣
Container Size
Minimum 5 L pot — mint spreads aggressively, contain it
📅
Best Season (PH)
Year-round; April-October ideal.
Philippine Seasonal Calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
M = recommended planting months
🌿

Propagation Methods

Learn the best ways to multiply your plants — from seeds to cuttings.

Cuttings (Recommended) Division
Steps
1
Take 10 cm cuttings from any healthy stem.
2
Root in water 1 week.
3
Transplant to pot (containment important — mint spreads).
4
Water moderately.
💚

Care Guide

Keep your plant happy and thriving with the right light, water, and nutrients.

🌞 Sunlight

Partial shade preferred

💧 Watering

Daily; consistent moisture

🌱 Fertilizer

Compost monthly; light feeder

🌡️ Temperature

20-28°C

💨 Humidity

60-90%

🪨 Soil Maintenance

Pinch tops to encourage bushiness.

🌾

Harvest Guide

Know when and how to harvest for the best yield and flavor.

Leaves ready 30 days after planting
Days to Harvest
👀
Signs of Readiness

Stems 15 cm long with abundant leaves.

✂️
How to Harvest

Pinch off leaves and stems; plant regrows.

⚠️

Common Problems & Solutions

Spot issues early and fix them fast.

Aggressive spreading

Cause: Mint runners

Solution: Always grow in pots, never in ground; trim runners.

Yellowing

Cause: Nutrient deficiency

Solution: Apply compost or vermicast.

Rust on leaves

Cause: Fungal disease

Solution: Remove infected leaves; improve airflow.

Aphids

Cause: Aphid colonies

Solution: Soap-water spray.

🌻

Perfect Plant Partners

Plants that grow well together.