How to Grow a Mignonette Vine Plant
- 1). Prepare a sandy, nutrient-rich planting space in full sun. The plant is not appropriate for cold climates and only thrives in areas where temperatures remain warm year around. Dig in 4 inches of sand and 2 inches of compost in a 2-foot square area down to a depth of 8 or more inches. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the plant's nursery pot and just as deep.
- 2). Remove the vine from the pot and gently pull out the roots. Spread the roots into the hole and center the stake, if it came with one. If it did not, push a stake into the earth near the center of the plant and back fill with soil. Compress the earth around the mignonette vine. You can also plant the vine within 5 inches of a trellis for easy training. Use plant ties as the vine grows to help it adhere to the structure.
- 3). Water the vine every other day for the first week and then taper off slowly over the course of the next two weeks. Initially, provide moisture to a depth of 6 inches. After a month, water once a week with the equivalent of 1 inch of water.
- 4). Cut out suckers as they appear and allow only the strongest vines to grow up the structure. Prune as needed to shape. In early spring when the vine is semi-dormant, cut it back by half. If the vine sustained frost injury, cut it to within 3 inches of the ground.
- 5). Fertilize in spring with a balanced fertilizer. Apply 1 lb. to fully grown, mature plants. Mix it in with the soil and water in well. Use a thin layer of mulch around the base of the plant in fall to protect it from cool temperatures. Another layer of mulch in spring prevents weeds.
