Everyone knows mint, as it is the favorite spice of many people. Therefore, many interesting varieties have been developed recently. Chocolate mint is valued for its interesting aroma: the smell of chocolate and vanilla is added to its menthol coolness. It also has green leaves with a purple tint.
Variety specifics
The peppermint variety Chocolate was developed 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 characteristics:
- The height of the bushes reaches 60 cm, its shoots are placed vertically, hairs are occasionally found on the surface;
- the leaf blades are round in shape, green-violet in color, the arrangement is opposite to each other;
- Mint blooms with small, light purple inflorescences collected in panicles.
A person feels a mint 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 products, as well as in hot drinks.
Seed preparation
Chocolate mint is propagated in different ways: root shoots, green cuttings, and seeds, which you buy or collect and dry yourself, are suitable for this.
Growing mint bushes from seeds is a labor-intensive and time-consuming task, which is not always successful. Also, the germination percentage of the material may be low. You also need to take into account the fact that when seed propagation of hybrid mint varieties young plants may not reproduce the maternal varietal characteristics.
The material for sowing mint has a size of up to 0.5 mm in diameter and is black. Due to such tiny parameters, care must be taken during the sowing process. Therefore, a wide and shallow container is used. Sow mint in early spring in furrows 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, and a handful of wood ash is added.
As an option, purchase 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 plant. This property of the presence of alkalis can be used by people with an allergic reaction to the smell of the spice, but who like to drink mint tea.
Landing
After sowing, favorable conditions for germination are created for future plants. To do this, maintain the room temperature within 21-24 °C, and after moistening the soil itself, cover it with film or glass. At the same time, ventilation holes are made in the walls of plastic containers.
Shoots of young plants appear after 14-21 days. It is advisable to place containers with mint near north-eastern or western windows. It is quite photophilous and requires good lighting. If it is deficient, the spicy crop 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 the crop. A place for it is chosen with diffuse shading. Plant it at a distance of at least 40 cm between the bushes. Mint grows quickly.
Cultivation care
In order for the spicy crop 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 open ground in summer is comfortable for the plant, but indoors in winter it is worth protecting it with a damper from hot heating radiators.
In summer, the spicy crop on the windowsill needs to be shaded 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.
Watering the plant
Chocolate mint is demanding of soil moisture, so water it systematically as soon as it dries out. She also responds positively to spraying. This procedure helps maintain the necessary humidity and frees the surface of the plants from dust. After irrigation, the spicy crop becomes bright and well-groomed.
Mint grows well in areas with high dampness, which means it can be planted near bodies of water and in lowlands. The fact that the soil in these areas is highly acidic does not hinder the plant.
Spicy herbs in containers need to be well soaked. Excess moisture will be removed through the drainage holes. Next time, you should not allow the soil 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 it is attacked by weeds.
Loosening
Loosening the soil is also important for chocolate mint. It helps the plant roots receive more oxygen and retains most of the moisture.
Diseases and pests
Chocolate mint has good resistance to diseases and pests.
Harvest and storage
Cut mint shoots after the release of flower stalks or after the end of flowering. If you care for the plant well, you can harvest it three times during its growing season. In the case of pinching off the tops, this will serve as a stimulation for more amicable branching of the spicy crop.
The harvest stops in the middle of the last summer month. This way 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 remain fragrant for a long time.
Although chocolate mint is mainly grown as a spice, its decorative qualities are also worthy of attention. During flowering, it has a very decorative appearance, and it can also be planted as a ground cover plant. In any case, it will bring people a lot of joy and benefit.
