Licorice mint!

[thegrey]

I saw these seeds at Lowe's and I want to grow some. Has anyone had experience with them? It seems like a pleasant, but odd combination.

 

[kevinkimers]

Are you going to start them inside or outside. According to everything I am reading they work both in full sun and partial sun. They seem to be a hardy little plant. They apparently grow best in zones 5 through 9. You sow them in late winter or early spring. Don't sow them more then 1/8 of a inch in the ground. Water with room temp water. Keep them temp at around 55 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and will germinate between 2 to 4 weeks.

If you start inside, it is suggested that while it is still in the pot to move it outdoors for a few hours every day for a few weeks. They don't grow well in shady areas or clay like soil. Best time to transplant is late spring or early summer. They will die in the fall and re-sprout in the spring if cared for properly.

 

[thegrey]

Are you going to start them inside or outside. According to everything I am reading they work both in full sun and partial sun. They seem to be a hardy little plant. They apparently grow best in zones 5 through 9. You sow them in late winter or early spring. Don't sow them more then 1/8 of a inch in the ground. Water with room temp water. Keep them temp at around 55 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and will germinate between 2 to 4 weeks.

If you start inside, it is suggested that while it is still in the pot to move it outdoors for a few hours every day for a few weeks. They don't grow well in shady areas or clay like soil. Best time to transplant is late spring or early summer. They will die in the fall and re-sprout in the spring if cared for properly.

Thank you for the info. We bought some little plants and my son has been taking care of them. He has been growing them inside in the original pots. He moves them around the house, "with the sun." Do you think that's adequate? I appreciate all the information you gave me.

 

[kevinkimers]

I don't see any harm in it, but it maybe better to pick the window that receives the most sun during the day and putting it there and leaving it. Plants can be a little picky sometimes and they don't like being moved around a lot. However, I don't see the harm in it either. You may want to check to make sure that it is not out growing the pot.

 

[IcyBC]

I didn't even know licorice mint exists, but the other day I met a lady who grows chocolate mints in her front garden. She makes tea out of the leaves, and I will have at least a bunch of them to grow in my garden soon. Right now it has just coming back up but when it is strong enough, she will give me some.

 

[kevinkimers]

I never heard of chocolate mints either. Are the brown? Is that why they are called that?

 

[thegrey]

Well we finally got our licorice mint AND chocolate mint planted. They are beautiful little plants, and they smell so good! The chocolate smells and tastes like chocolate mint, when you make tea with it. I had never heard of either one of them until this year. They are not brown in color, they're a beautiful green.

 

[kevinkimers]

ummmm... they sound yummy. I have been looking around for seeds or plants and they are not sold here. Going to have to hit the internet to see about getting some.

 

[thegrey]

ummmm... they sound yummy. I have been looking around for seeds or plants and they are not sold here. Going to have to hit the internet to see about getting some.

I hope you can find them somewhere. They are growing really fast, and it looks like we will get quite a good yield from them. I'm going to try drying some.

 

[gata montes]

I never heard of chocolate mints either. Are the brown? Is that why they are called that?

Having grown Chocolate Mint since it first became available - I would highly recommend trying it - as although it doesn't have an overly chocolatey flavor - it does have a deliciously chocolatey aroma and as it is a beautiful burgundy color - it also adds a lovely touch of color to any herb garden

as there are literally hundreds of different varieties of mint - you may also be interested in some of the other more unusual varieties - which I also grow not only for their different flavor but for their attractive foliage - like for instance

Pineapple Mint

or Variegated Ginger Mint

I would also just add that although it is said that most mints can be grown from seed - mint generally does best when started from a cutting or bought as a young plant - particularly as mint seeds are normally fairly erratic when it comes to germination.

 

[kevinkimers]

Ok, I'm inspired. Putting Chocolate Mint on my seed list. Geezee.... by the time you guys are done... by BF is going to kill me. We are broke and haven't even started buying yet, lol.

 

[thegrey]

Oh thank you for the pictures! The first one looks like mine! My plant is going absolutely crazy! It is so fragrant and beautiful, and adds a great flavor to tea!