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Asked by:
Louise Hume
Posted at:
January 26, 2025
I would like to plant several varieties of mint in my garden. I am aware they will need a barrier but will varieties cross pollinate. Is there a rule re the distance apart? I would like to plant some of the Westerfield mints this coming season along with the English and peppermint I have in two different areas of the garden but I would want them to stay true to form.There are no easy answers to your question because fertility (the ability to produce viable seeds) among the mints is complex. Mints frequently can cross pollinate and produce seeds that develop into off type plants. Even when plants of only one mint variety are planted, it is possible that the plants will produce seeds of off types because some varieties are self fertile hybrids. There are known exceptions, such as peppermint, a naturally sterile hybrid incapable of producing seeds (so that beds of peppermint only will not generate off types).