Help - mint or basil?!

I think my mint might be basil - can anyone help me?!

I planted seeds out of a mint packet (pre-packaged, commercial packaging), bought in a local garden/ animal shop. I have checked the packet and it definitely says mint, the picture on the front is definitely of mint leaves. I also bought basil seeds and have planted them too, but that is definitely basil growing so I have not mixed up the seeds. They do not look the same (at the moment I'm thinking they're different kinds of basil maybe).

It smells kind of minty but I don't know if that's just because I think (thought) it is mint. Today I got some fresh basil from the supermarket and they smell and look pretty similar.

Thank you!!

That sure looks like basil to me. Mint has sort of square-ish stems. Another way to check, if you still have some of the seeds.. when you moisten basil seeds, a gelatinous seed coat appears; they sort of swell up and look like little frog eggs.

Gmun ~ I agree, it favors basil. But nice healthy looking plants.

What type of mint was it supposed to be?

Another thought... although you can grow mints from seed, there are a lot of wonderful varieties out there that are propagated by cuttings/divisions. I'd suggest looking around and sniffing until you find a little pot of mint that you really like... you'll be amazed at how quickly you can turn that pot into a big patch!

Thanks everyone, yup, I think it's definitely basil! The mint seed packet just says "Mint" and the picture of the leaves is the typical jagged edge mint leaf (sorry that's not very specific on type, classic mint, I guess).

Critterologist, thanks I will try that with the seeds and see if it is conclusive. And maybe I'll just look for a mint plant... I was looking forward to fresh mojitos... among other things!!

I don't know where Chester Springs is, but if you're coming to either of our two spring plant swaps (see the MidAtlantic Gardening forum for more info), we should be able to get some mint to you! I'm hoping to make it to the VA swap, and a couple of folks going to both have offered to ferry plants to the PA swap... I'll bring a couple of bags of both Kentucky Colonel Spearmint (my favorite for cooking and juleps -- mohitos, too!) and Chocolate Peppermint (great for tea or just nibbling), so there will be plenty to go around.

Critterologist, thanks that is very kind, sadly I will not be there.

I am feeling rather foolish and think I may have mixed up my labelling! I suppose I won't be the first or last to do this...!!

I'm not exactly sure, but I did the seed test you suggested on a few "mint" seeds and also on a basil seed for comparison. As you said, the basil seed went kind of gelatinous but the others didn't. They are very tiny seeds, almost poppy size. I have more "basil" than "mint-I-think-is- basil" so today I inspected the "basil" very carefully. It is smaller and growing slower, but the largest leaves look as if they might be getting fuzzy so I'm thinking the basil might be mint!!


Here is a photo. What do you think?

Sorry for the really dumb questions - this is my first year growing stuff!! Thank you so much for your help - the seed experiment has proved to be very useful!!

I'm not sure if that's mint, but it doesn't look right for basil. You'll know soon enough.. once they start getting their true leaves (the first pair are cotyledons, or nurse leaves), herbs start smelling & tasting good. You could probably pinch the tip off one of those seedlings to see if it's minty (you have plenty of seedlings, so you could sacrifice one.. or you could wait until one gets bigger).

Thanks, I pinched one and rubbed a few leaves and I'm pretty sure that it's mint!! Mojitos are still on the summer menu!!

Mint it may be but do you know which one? The small leaves don't look like the common mints.
Maybe Pennyroyal which is low growing, creeping and small leaved.
I don't know much about consuming Pennyroyal... how edible would it be?

I think the packet just says Mint, I will check the back and see if there is any further classification. The picture on the front does look like typical mint - what I would think of if someone said mint leaf (although judging from this thread, that might not count for much!!!).

Basil is in the mint family Lamiaceae which may explain the labeling. If you still have the package try contacting the distributor, they may send you the mint you intended to purchase. Hope this info helps!

Be very careful ingesting pennyroyal, especially the pregnant among us. That first pic looks like basil, but the other like mint. I have peppermint growing in a bed in the yard and some of it has the typical gray-green spiky leaves and some is greener and sort of softer looking. Beats me why, just an observation.

I just recently discovered that this is mint and not a sage (my better half said it was a wild sage) I am anxious to start collecting seeds from it. I'd appreciate any info anyone could provide about this type of mint.

This message was edited Aug 1, 2010 6:34 AM