Chocolate Lovers Plant

Chocolate Mint

The chocolate mint here I bought from a nursery when it was very young. It got huge during the summer in its pot, so when i brought it in for winter I cut it down. The leaves I dried for tea!

  Its the best tea, aroma (like a york peppermint paddy) and taste surpass all other teas. For valentines day it is my go to drink. Who doesn't want a warm chocolate mintalisous drink.

All right back to the plant!

  

  This plant is for anyone, easy to grow and grows in zones 3-11. It can grow in full to light shade. With full light do make sure if you get harsh light in the afternoon try to put it in a place where it will get a brake from the afternoon sun.  From personal experience with different types of mint I've grown, they can grow in any type of soil. If keeping this plant in your garden beware, its very invasive, it has stems above and blow the ground that seem to crawl.  When the conditions are perfect, the plant will show you its light pink flowers. Water regularly to keep the soil moist. If harvesting the leaves do it before it flowers, or pinch off the flowers so more leaves continue to grow. My advice is to keep this plant in a pot. When i say its invasive I mean it will go hulk on you garden with the  runners roots spreading new plants anywhere theres soil. 

So in a pot care -

  Keep moist but don't water log the plant. The more sun the fuller the flavor. When the plant is getting to big your going to have to trim it down. Or you can re pot it and pull apart the the new plants that have sprouted. Extremely easy and fun plant to grow indoors. 

  Besides tea this plant is a great friend in the kitchen! It goes well with ice cream, hot chocolate, pastry cream, brownies, mojitos,  smoothies, cookies and lots more!

This website has lots of ways to use chocolate mint-

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/herbs/msg051259214982.html?5

-references- 

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56869/#b

This site also has a chocolate themed garden reference !

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/mint/growing-chocolate-mint-herb.htm

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-dos-donts-of-growing-mint-147458

Pest that like mint and lots of info

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/herbs/grow-mint-plants/

Rosemary

Rosemary

   The  flowers from the rosemary come in shades of blue, purple, to a nice pink. Mine as you can see are light purple. What a fragrant plant and adds a lovely green or silver (depending on the type you have) to the interior of your home. As most cooking friendly people know this plant is a must for flavor! This website tells you how and what parts of the plant you can use.

http://madeleineg.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Use-Rosemary-In-Your-Cooking

  I grew all three of mine from cuts off a old plant that my mother in law has (huge plant its incredible ), you can also take bottom leaves from other plants and put them directly in to the soil to grow new plants.

Indoor care for the lovely rosemary-
  The plant thrives in pots but must have a sunny area to grow. It needs well draining soil and dose not tolerate water-logging, the roots will rot. Let the plant dry out before the next watering. I look for the leaves to start curling before I water. If it starts to get a bit big for the pot don't be afraid to trim it back. Indoor rosemary dose also need to be fertilized regularly.

      Great website for more info on indoor rosemary care-
 http://houseplants.about.com/od/More_Plant_Profiles/p/Growing-Rosemary-Indoors.htm

Extra knowledge 

  Very drought hardy plant and some types can grow up to 5-6-7 feet tall outside. Some grow straight up and some are used for ground cover. Something else i did not know is that rosemary is pest resistant (bugs, deer, and rabbits). If you want to grow outside it needs a climate where the ground dose not freeze to many times a year. Some harder verities will tolerate a little freezing.

This website tell you the different types of rosemary-

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/RightRosemary.htmlBe care full some types are not resistant to frost!

Creative things-
- cooking with it
- make a balm
- can make a rosemary oil
- make a rinse for you hair
- use it for a natural bug spray
- the sent is a great stress reliever

Different types of rosemary and what type is best for you!
http://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/right-rosemary-for-you-00400000023371/page3.html

- References -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary

http://wellnessmama.com/5193/herb-profile-rosemary/

Lemon seeds make?

Lemon Trees

My lemon trees were started in early spring 2013. I was inspired by all the pintrest post, in the garden section that year about starting your own lemon tree from seed. 

If I rub this trees leaves they smell like lemons.

I bought an organic lemon popped out the seeds and put them in soil. (Don't allow the seeds to dry. If need be put them in a wet paper towl till ready for soil.) I started with three seeds and two sprouted, not bad odds. I remember it did not take long for the trees to sprout, maybe two weeks. I kept the soil wet during that time and did not use any special treatment. It was a plain and simple process. 

  For me they were very easy to maintain, when the leaves start to curl i water it.  

Things to know about a lemon tree-

1. Its a evergreen tree native to Asia
2. Brought to America in 1493
3. This is fun lemon juice is added to pancakes in the UK
4. Very useful for cleaning and disinfecting 

Having my lemon trees indoors means they will grow slower than those in the right conditions outdoors. So during the summer you can put them outdoors depending on where you live. Indoors they need lots of sun and water. When i say lots of water i mean keep the soil damp to the touch.

If you wish to try this make sure you get a dwarf variety(Meyers seem to be the most popular) mine sadly are not and will out grow there pots. I think they may be Eureka lemon trees.

How to identify different types of lemons link-

http://www.ehow.com/how_4463859_identify-different-types-lemon.html

References 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon 

http://www.gardenista.com/posts/5-secrets-tips-grow-indoor-citrus-trees 

http://www.thekitchn.com/indoor-meyer-lemon-trees-for-w-75146