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Pennyroyal Seeds
Keep bugs away the natural way
- Genus: Mentha
- Species: pulegium
- Item Form: (P) Pkt of 100 seeds
- Zone: 6 - 9
- Bloom Start to End: Mid Summer
- Days to Maturity: 70
- Habit: Spreading
- Seeds Per Pack: 100
- Plant Height: 4 in - 6 in
- Plant Width: 4 ft
- Additional Characteristics: Butterfly Lovers, Cut-and-Come-Again, Easy Care Plants, Edible, Flower, Fragrance, Herbs, Indoor Growing, Pest Fighter
- Bloom Color: Lavender
- Foliage Color: Medium Green
- Light Requirements: Part Shade
- Moisture Requirements: Moist, well-drained
- Soil Tolerance: Normal, loamy
- Uses: Cuisine, Beds, Border, Containers, Foliage Interest, Ground Cover, Outdoor
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- About this Product
- Know Before You Grow
- Reviews
- How To...
- Plants that Repel Pests
- Superior Seed Germination
- FAQ
Days to Maturity: 70
Pennyroyal is a most useful member of the mint family. Traditionally used to repel fleas, mice and other pests, it is also a main ingredient in herbal insect repellents. And it's so easy to grow!
This upright, creeping perennial reaches 4 to 6 inches tall and spreads indefinitely. Narrow stems are lined with 1½-inch oval leaves and topped with whorls of lilac flowers.
Grow like other mints, in rich, moist soil in sun or partial shade. You can direct-sow the seed or begin it indoors; the seed germinates in about 7 to 21 days, and the seedlings grow rapidly. To avoid it becoming invasive, you might want to plant in containers or in confined areas.
Perfect for beginning gardeners, mint is the easiest of all herbs to grow, a perennial hardy in zones 4-9. In addition to flavoring food and drinks, it serves as a natural pest deterrent in the vegetable, herb, or flower garden, and chewing the leaves not only freshens the breath but is said to calm an upset stomach.
Choosing a Mint Variety
Native to the Mediterranean, the genus Mentha has parented more than 3,500 varieties. By far the most commonly grown in this country are Spearmint (M. spicata) and Peppermint (M. x piperita). Both are super easy to grow, taking off like crazy to perfume home or garden all season!
When to Start Mint Seeds
For spring planting, mint seeds can be started indoors in late winter or direct-sown in the warm spring soil. But as a hardy perennial, they can be started anytime until about 2 months before the first frost of fall, or year-round for indoor use.
How to Start Mint Seeds
To sow the seeds indoors, place them on top of the Bio Sponge in your Bio Dome, or on top of the medium in your seed flat. Do not cover the seeds; they need light to germinate. They should sprout within 10 to 15 days at room temperature or slightly warmer (68 to 75°F). Transplant into the garden or container when they have at least 2 sets of true leaves.
To sow the seeds outdoors, place them on top of well-worked soil, then sprinkle a fine layer of vermiculite on top of them. If you are sowing directly into the garden, consider placing a row cover over the seeds until they sprout.
Special Considerations
- Harvest sprigs from the plant as you need them all season long.
- Try to pick mint in the morning, when the flavorful oils are strongest.
- Plant your mint where passersby will brush the foliage, which releases its heady aroma.
- For new plants from your old ones, root a stem cutting in a glass of water, or divide the entire plant into sections and replant each division.
Growing Tips for Mint Plants
- Mint thrives best in partial shade and rich, moist soil. However, it is famously unfussy, so chances are it will not only survive but flourish in any light from full sun to deep shade, and any quality of soil provided the drainage is decent. Many gardeners deliberately plant it in less favorable conditions to slow down its spread!
- Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in the garden.
- Throughout the growth months, pinch off the tips of the stems. This makes your plant bushier and less leggy.
- Avoid using fertilizer on mint.
Pests and Problems to Watch For
Mint's greatest advantage -- its utter ease of growth -- is also one of its biggest problems. Do not plant it in an area where other plants must compete for space. If you want it in the garden but without the rapid spread, set it into a container instead, and use a saucer at the base to prevent the roots from growing into the soil below.
Pennyroyal Germination Information
How to Sow Pennyroyal: - Best sown indoors at alternating temperatures of 55 and 72°
- Sow with NO cover as light aids in germination
- Expect germination in 10-15 days
- Seeds can also be sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past in the spring, but when the ground is still cool
- When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed
How to Grow Pennyroyal:
Transplanting: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves
Spacing: Space 6 inches apart
Lighting: Site in full sun. Plants will tolerant light shade if competition from other plants is not too intense
Soil: Site in damp, but well-drained soil
Additional Care: Pinch the growing tips to encourage the growth of side branches. Mulch with pine straw to help plants overwinter
Appearance and Use:
This creeping herb makes an excellent ground cover: it grows only 6-12 inches tall and as it spreads the branches bend down to the soil and form roots. From mid-summer to early autumn the whorls of lilac flowers appear. The small, green leaves are redolent with a peppermint aroma. They are used as an herbal insect repellant. Harvest them by shearing back the entire plant just as flowering begins
About Pennyroyal:
Botanical name: Mentha pulegium
Pronunciation: men’thå pu-leg’e-um
Lifecycle: Perennial
Origination: Lamiaceae; native to England and Continental Europe
Planting garlic, onions, chives, lavender, rosemary, and sage around rabbit-susceptible plants will repel rabbits. Deer repellent plants include: lavender, onion, catnip, sage, chives, garlic, spearmint, and thyme. Be sure to strategically place these repellent plants around and in between rabbit and deer-susceptible plants. Also, place some along the property line and especially at key points the rabbits and deer are using as entryways, which can even deter them from coming onto your property.
Superior Germination Through Superior Science
Park Seed offers some of the highest-quality vegetable and flower seeds available in the industry, and there are a number of reasons for this.First of all, we have humidity- and temperature-controlled storage, and we never treat any of our seeds with chemicals or pesticides. Nor do we ever sell GMO's (genetically modified seeds), so you always know the products you're buying from us are natural as well as safe for you and the environment.
Superior Standards - University Inspected
To make sure we are providing the best seed product possible and that our customers will get the highest number of seedlings from every packet, we conduct our own germination testing and have quality-control measures in every stage of our seed-handling operation. We hold ourselves to standards that are at or above federal and state standards, including testing specific crops more frequently than recommended by federal guidelines. And in order to maintain our organic certification, we welcome Clemson University to inspect us annually to make sure our organic seeds, which are stored and processed separately, are being handled properly.
Hand Packed By Experienced Technicians
Park Seed has been handling and packing vegetable and flower seeds for 145 years, a history that has given us a great understanding of how each variety should be cared for and maintained throughout every step of theprocess, from collection to shipping.
When packing our seeds, the majority are actually done by hand (with extreme care!), and we often over-pack them, so you're receiving more than the stated quantity.
The Park Seed Gold Standard
And many of our seeds are packed in our exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil packets, which are lined to keep moisture out, so the seeds stay fresher for longer. We carefully pack very tiny or fragile seeds in crush-proof vials to ensure safe delivery to your home. Some of the small seeds are also offered as "pellets" (have a clay coating) to make sowing and growing easier.
When it comes to the kinds of seeds we offer, we are constantly seeking something new and provide many unique and hard-to-find varieties from all around the world. Our on-staff horticulturists are ready and available to share their expertise to help you with the success of these seeds, so you can grow a beautiful and productive garden!
It is important for our customers to know that Park Seed does not sell GMO or treated seed.
Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated -- they are not hybrids. You can gather and save heirloom seed from year to year and they will grow true to type every year, so they can be passed down through generations. To be considered an heirloom, a variety would have to be at least from the 1940's and 3 generations old (many varieties are much older -- some 100 years or more!).
Hybrid seed are the product of cross-pollination between 2 different parent plants, resulting in a new plant/seed that is different from the parents. Unlike Heirloom seed, hybrid seed need to be re-purchased new every year (and not saved). They usually will not grow true to type if you save them, but will revert to one of the parents they were crossed with and most likely look/taste different in some way.
Extremely small seed such as Petunias and Pentas are shipped as pelleted seed to make them easier to handle and sow. Pelleted seed are coated, usually with clay, to make them larger in size. After sowing, the coating will dissolve when wet and the seed will germinate. Pelleted seeds are shipped in vials placed inside seed packets, which protects them from being crushed. When sowing, be certain to use thoroughly moistened soil, to be sure that the clay coating absorbs enough moisture to dissolve. For sowing pelleted Petunia seeds, place the seeds directly on the soil surface and do not cover with soil, as light aids in the germination.
Days to Maturity: 70
Pennyroyal is a most useful member of the mint family. Traditionally used to repel fleas, mice and other pests, it is also a main ingredient in herbal insect repellents. And it's so easy to grow!
This upright, creeping perennial reaches 4 to 6 inches tall and spreads indefinitely. Narrow stems are lined with 1½-inch oval leaves and topped with whorls of lilac flowers.
Grow like other mints, in rich, moist soil in sun or partial shade. You can direct-sow the seed or begin it indoors; the seed germinates in about 7 to 21 days, and the seedlings grow rapidly. To avoid it becoming invasive, you might want to plant in containers or in confined areas.
Perfect for beginning gardeners, mint is the easiest of all herbs to grow, a perennial hardy in zones 4-9. In addition to flavoring food and drinks, it serves as a natural pest deterrent in the vegetable, herb, or flower garden, and chewing the leaves not only freshens the breath but is said to calm an upset stomach.
Choosing a Mint Variety
Native to the Mediterranean, the genus Mentha has parented more than 3,500 varieties. By far the most commonly grown in this country are Spearmint (M. spicata) and Peppermint (M. x piperita). Both are super easy to grow, taking off like crazy to perfume home or garden all season!
When to Start Mint Seeds
For spring planting, mint seeds can be started indoors in late winter or direct-sown in the warm spring soil. But as a hardy perennial, they can be started anytime until about 2 months before the first frost of fall, or year-round for indoor use.
How to Start Mint Seeds
To sow the seeds indoors, place them on top of the Bio Sponge in your Bio Dome, or on top of the medium in your seed flat. Do not cover the seeds; they need light to germinate. They should sprout within 10 to 15 days at room temperature or slightly warmer (68 to 75°F). Transplant into the garden or container when they have at least 2 sets of true leaves.
To sow the seeds outdoors, place them on top of well-worked soil, then sprinkle a fine layer of vermiculite on top of them. If you are sowing directly into the garden, consider placing a row cover over the seeds until they sprout.
Special Considerations
- Harvest sprigs from the plant as you need them all season long.
- Try to pick mint in the morning, when the flavorful oils are strongest.
- Plant your mint where passersby will brush the foliage, which releases its heady aroma.
- For new plants from your old ones, root a stem cutting in a glass of water, or divide the entire plant into sections and replant each division.
Growing Tips for Mint Plants
- Mint thrives best in partial shade and rich, moist soil. However, it is famously unfussy, so chances are it will not only survive but flourish in any light from full sun to deep shade, and any quality of soil provided the drainage is decent. Many gardeners deliberately plant it in less favorable conditions to slow down its spread!
- Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in the garden.
- Throughout the growth months, pinch off the tips of the stems. This makes your plant bushier and less leggy.
- Avoid using fertilizer on mint.
Pests and Problems to Watch For
Mint's greatest advantage -- its utter ease of growth -- is also one of its biggest problems. Do not plant it in an area where other plants must compete for space. If you want it in the garden but without the rapid spread, set it into a container instead, and use a saucer at the base to prevent the roots from growing into the soil below.
Pennyroyal Germination Information
How to Sow Pennyroyal: - Best sown indoors at alternating temperatures of 55 and 72°
- Sow with NO cover as light aids in germination
- Expect germination in 10-15 days
- Seeds can also be sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past in the spring, but when the ground is still cool
- When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed
How to Grow Pennyroyal:
Transplanting: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves
Spacing: Space 6 inches apart
Lighting: Site in full sun. Plants will tolerant light shade if competition from other plants is not too intense
Soil: Site in damp, but well-drained soil
Additional Care: Pinch the growing tips to encourage the growth of side branches. Mulch with pine straw to help plants overwinter
Appearance and Use:
This creeping herb makes an excellent ground cover: it grows only 6-12 inches tall and as it spreads the branches bend down to the soil and form roots. From mid-summer to early autumn the whorls of lilac flowers appear. The small, green leaves are redolent with a peppermint aroma. They are used as an herbal insect repellant. Harvest them by shearing back the entire plant just as flowering begins
About Pennyroyal:
Botanical name: Mentha pulegium
Pronunciation: men’thå pu-leg’e-um
Lifecycle: Perennial
Origination: Lamiaceae; native to England and Continental Europe
Planting garlic, onions, chives, lavender, rosemary, and sage around rabbit-susceptible plants will repel rabbits. Deer repellent plants include: lavender, onion, catnip, sage, chives, garlic, spearmint, and thyme. Be sure to strategically place these repellent plants around and in between rabbit and deer-susceptible plants. Also, place some along the property line and especially at key points the rabbits and deer are using as entryways, which can even deter them from coming onto your property.
Superior Germination Through Superior Science
Park Seed offers some of the highest-quality vegetable and flower seeds available in the industry, and there are a number of reasons for this.First of all, we have humidity- and temperature-controlled storage, and we never treat any of our seeds with chemicals or pesticides. Nor do we ever sell GMO's (genetically modified seeds), so you always know the products you're buying from us are natural as well as safe for you and the environment.
Superior Standards - University Inspected
To make sure we are providing the best seed product possible and that our customers will get the highest number of seedlings from every packet, we conduct our own germination testing and have quality-control measures in every stage of our seed-handling operation. We hold ourselves to standards that are at or above federal and state standards, including testing specific crops more frequently than recommended by federal guidelines. And in order to maintain our organic certification, we welcome Clemson University to inspect us annually to make sure our organic seeds, which are stored and processed separately, are being handled properly.
Hand Packed By Experienced Technicians
Park Seed has been handling and packing vegetable and flower seeds for 145 years, a history that has given us a great understanding of how each variety should be cared for and maintained throughout every step of theprocess, from collection to shipping.
When packing our seeds, the majority are actually done by hand (with extreme care!), and we often over-pack them, so you're receiving more than the stated quantity.
The Park Seed Gold Standard
And many of our seeds are packed in our exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil packets, which are lined to keep moisture out, so the seeds stay fresher for longer. We carefully pack very tiny or fragile seeds in crush-proof vials to ensure safe delivery to your home. Some of the small seeds are also offered as "pellets" (have a clay coating) to make sowing and growing easier.
When it comes to the kinds of seeds we offer, we are constantly seeking something new and provide many unique and hard-to-find varieties from all around the world. Our on-staff horticulturists are ready and available to share their expertise to help you with the success of these seeds, so you can grow a beautiful and productive garden!
It is important for our customers to know that Park Seed does not sell GMO or treated seed.
Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated -- they are not hybrids. You can gather and save heirloom seed from year to year and they will grow true to type every year, so they can be passed down through generations. To be considered an heirloom, a variety would have to be at least from the 1940's and 3 generations old (many varieties are much older -- some 100 years or more!).
Hybrid seed are the product of cross-pollination between 2 different parent plants, resulting in a new plant/seed that is different from the parents. Unlike Heirloom seed, hybrid seed need to be re-purchased new every year (and not saved). They usually will not grow true to type if you save them, but will revert to one of the parents they were crossed with and most likely look/taste different in some way.
Extremely small seed such as Petunias and Pentas are shipped as pelleted seed to make them easier to handle and sow. Pelleted seed are coated, usually with clay, to make them larger in size. After sowing, the coating will dissolve when wet and the seed will germinate. Pelleted seeds are shipped in vials placed inside seed packets, which protects them from being crushed. When sowing, be certain to use thoroughly moistened soil, to be sure that the clay coating absorbs enough moisture to dissolve. For sowing pelleted Petunia seeds, place the seeds directly on the soil surface and do not cover with soil, as light aids in the germination.
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2 lb $12.95