Chocolate mint: plant description, planting and care with photo

Mint is known to everyone, as it is a favorite spice of many people. Therefore, in recent years, many interesting varieties have been bred. Chocolate mint is valued for its interesting aroma: the smell of chocolate and vanilla is added to its menthol coolness. It also has purple-green leaves.

Specific variety

Peppermint variety Chocolate was bred in the Netherlands. Unlike all other varieties, the plant has a milder taste and aroma of freshness and chocolate. In addition, the plant has the following characteristic:

the height of the bushes reaches 60 cm, its shoots are placed vertically, hairs are occasionally found on the surface;
leaf blades are rounded, they are green-purple in color, the arrangement is opposite to each other;
mint blooms with small and collected in panicles inflorescences of a light purple hue.

A person feels a minty aroma due to the presence of essential oil in the plant. It is present in all above-ground parts of the bush. This spice is used in the production of confectionery, as well as in hot drinks.

Seed preparation

Chocolate mint is propagated in different ways: root shoots, green cuttings, and seeds that are bought or harvested and dried on their own are suitable for this.

Growing mint bushes from seeds is a laborious and lengthy business, which is not always crowned with success.Also, the percentage of germination of the material may be low. You also need to take into account the fact that when seed propagation of hybrid varieties of mint, young plants may not repeat the varietal maternal characteristics.

Material for sowing mint has a size of up to 0.5 mm in diameter, black. Due to such tiny parameters, care must be taken during the sowing process. Therefore, a wide and small container is used. Mint is sown in early spring in grooves up to half a centimeter deep.

Soil preparation

Chocolate mint, like other varieties of this plant, prefers a fertile and breathable substrate prepared in advance. To prepare it, garden soil is mixed with compost or humus, a handful of wood ash is added.

Alternatively, get a universal soil for herbs or vegetables. At the same time, the composition of the purchased substrate is important: if it contains a lot of lime, this will negatively affect the degree of expression of the aroma of the plantThis property of the presence of alkalis can be used by people who are allergic to the smell of the spice, but who like to drink mint tea.

Landing

After sowing, they create favorable conditions for future plants to germinate. To do this, the temperature in the room is maintained within 21-24 ° C, and the soil itself, after moistening, is covered with a film or glass. At the same time, ventilation holes are made on the walls in plastic containers.

Shoots of young plants appear after 14-21 days. It is advisable to place containers with mint near the northeast or west windows. It is quite photophilous and requires good lighting. With its deficiency, the spice culture may die, but the plant does not need direct sunlight, which will lead to leaf burns.

When the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted into separate containers with drainage or open ground. Its composition may be the same as when sowing a crop. A place for it is chosen with diffuse shading. They plant it at a distance of at least 40 cm between the bushes. Mint grows quickly.

Crop care

In order for the spicy culture to be comfortable, it is fed every spring. Nitrogen-containing complexes or compost, humus, a solution of chicken or cow droppings are suitable as fertilizers.

The temperature in the summer in the open field is comfortable for the plant, and indoors in the winter it is worth protecting it with a damper from hot radiators.

In the summer on the windowsill, the spicy crop needs some shade in direct sunlight. In winter, on the contrary, mint should be illuminated with fluorescent lamps so that the daylight hours are at least 8 hours a day.

Water the plants

Chocolate mint is demanding on soil moisture, so water it systematically as soon as it dries out.She also responds positively to spraying. This procedure helps to maintain the necessary humidity and frees the surface of plants from dust. After irrigation, the spicy culture becomes bright and well-groomed.

Mint grows well in areas with high dampness, which means that it can be planted near water bodies and in lowlands. The fact that the soil in these areas is high in acidity does not interfere with the plant.

Spice herbs in containers need to be soaked well. Excess moisture will be removed through the drainage holes. Next time, the soil should not be allowed to dry out completely.

Weeding

Weeding should be done when the need arises. Without this action, the mint will gradually wither and disappear. A crop growing in a garden bed needs to be replanted every 3 years, because weeds infringe on it.

Loosening

Also important for chocolate mint and loosening the soil. It helps the roots of the plant get more oxygen and retain most of the moisture.

Diseases and pests

Chocolate mint has good disease and pest resistance.

Harvest and storage of crops

Cut off the mint shoots after the release of peduncles or after the end of flowering. If the care of the plant is of high quality, then it will be possible to harvest the crop three times during its growing season. In the case of pinching off the tops, this will serve as a stimulation for a more friendly branching of the spicy culture.

Harvesting stops in the middle of the last summer month. Thus, the plant will still have time to accumulate nutrients for subsequent rest and growth in the new season.

Dry mint out of direct sunlight, in a well-ventilated area. The finished spice is stored in a closed glass jar. This helps the plant stay fragrant for a long time.

Although chocolate mint is mainly grown as a spice, its decorative qualities are also noteworthy. It has a very decorative appearance during flowering, and it can also be planted as a groundcover. In any case, it will bring people a lot of joy and benefit.