You can grow it in containers or in the garden, but remember – it will spread and take over if left to its own devices. If you are growing yours in a container, make sure it has drainage holes. Soggy soil is not ideal for any plant, but mint will tolerate short-term wetness. But if there is no moisture on your finger, water thoroughly. If the soil is cool and your finger comes up moist, watering is unnecessary. Lesson learned: if you are growing this moisture-loving plant, keep an eye on the soil moisture level and water regularly.Ĭheck the soil moisture by pressing your finger into the soil surface. On a hot sunny day, it wilted in my windowsill, but luckily a good soaking brought it back within a couple hours! Photo by Sylvia Dekker. I learned how thirsty one of mine was the hard way, before I managed to transplant it in the garden. These are thirsty plants, and will wilt if the soil dries out. Enrich sandy or chalky soil with compost to provide a fertile home for your plants.Īlthough they generally don’t need much fertilizer, you can add a layer of compost around the plant annually.Ĭhocolate mint is low maintenance, except in the water department. In general, Mentha plants prefer moist soil and will tolerate an acidic to alkaline pH. More sun results in the best taste and color.īut this plant isn’t fond of excessive heat, so some shade during the day in the summer can be beneficial. It grows best with at least five to six hours of sun a day, preferably up to 14 if it’s available. Like all plants though, it has its preferences.
LEAFNOTE MINT HOW TO
How to GrowĬhocolate mint is a fast growing, easy plant to have in the garden. Luckily, these plants are easily propagated by cuttings, runners, layering, or plant division.įor detailed instructions on each of these methods, check out our article on how to grow and care for peppermint. Good to know, and I say this from experience because in the past I’ve purchased my fair share of “peppermint” seeds only to be disappointed with the smell and taste of the resulting plant. PropagationĪs a sterile hybrid, peppermint and its cultivars cannot be propagated by seed. The small lavender flowers attract all sorts of bees and butterflies, and the occasional appreciative human. It grows deep green leaves with purple undersides and dark stems, and is hardy in Zones 3-9. This cultivar has a dark look compared to the bright leaves of peppermint. Its cool peppermint scent, layered with that warm, salivation-inducing, sweet undertone won over the breeders and gardeners. ‘Chocolate’ was one of the resulting cultivars. The form citrata, also known as orange mint, was selected for further development. The result was a sterile hybrid we all know and love: M. citrata ‘Chocolate’ suggests, this plant is a cultivar of peppermint, which was selected from a cross between watermint, M. There’s only one way to form an opinion on whether it’s got that hint of chocolate or not… learn how to grow it below, and then find plant of your own!Īs its Latin name Mentha × piperita f. Some say it’s all in the mind, and some say it really does have an essence of the rich sweet we so adore. People are divided on whether it actually smells like chocolate.
I found my own plant at a nursery not long after that, and I was thrilled to find it really did smell like the inside of a Nestle After Eight wrapper! Ever since then, this variety has been a staple in my kitchen herb garden. The other interrupted, saying she’d harvested her chocolate mint the other day and she gushed, none too quietly, “It smells soooo good!” One started talking about her garden, so I tuned in.
I’m not going to lie, I was eavesdropping on a conversation between two ladies in the checkout line. The first time I heard about chocolate mint (the plant) was in the grocery store. I mean, I love sweet things in general, but those cool mint patties coated in thin layers of dark chocolate are on a whole new level of deliciousness. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products.
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