GARDENING 101-Growing a Chocolate Garden

[NWGCPresident]

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When planning a chocolate garden choose a location where you will get at least a half day of full sun and amend your soil so that it drains well. A spot near the patio or your back door is a great idea so that you can enjoy the chocolate goodness of your garden every day.

Start your chocolate garden by planting several chocolate-scented geraniums. Scented Geraniums can be planted outside as annual flowers and there is more than a couple different chocolate scents to choose from. They work very well as houseplants too so if you don't have room for an outside chocolate garden you can have one on a windowsill indoors where you can enjoy the rich cocoa aromas year round.

Add a few Chocolate Daisies. Chocolate Daisies have yellow petals and look a lot like regular daisies. They are night bloomers but their chocolate fragrance can be enjoyed every morning when the sun comes up.

To extend the chocolate sensation late into the afternoon add Chocolate Cosmos to your garden. Chocolate Cosmos are deep red flowers that emit a dark chocolate scent.

Don't forget to add a bit of Chocolate Mint to your garden collection. The smell of this herb will immediately make you think of a York Peppermint Patty. Go easy when planting any mint as it is known to be invasive and can take over your garden. You might consider planting your chocolate Mint in containers to be on the safe side. And best of all Chocolate Mint is edible. Try crushing some leaves into your favorite coffee or hot chocolate mix for an enjoyable taste treat.

Top off your chocolate garden with chocolate scented mulch made from cocoa bean shells. This product is not recommended for gardens where pets are allowed to run free as most cocoa bean shell mulches can be poisonous to humans and animals. There are some on the market that have had the theobromine (poisonous alkaloid found in chocolate) removed so be sure to read the labels before adding this type of mulch to a pet friendly garden or to a garden where small children might play.

Once you've gotten your chocolate garden planted, water as needed and then sit back with a cold glass of chocolate milk and enjoy!

***If you can find it, a CHOCOLATE MINT PlANT.....the REAL ones taste and smell just like a Peppermint Patty***  I have this and it tastes great***

  DO NOT be fooled by a Spearmint plant called "Chocolate Mint".....it refers to the color of the plant.

Always taste and smell the mint you are going to buy.

[LYNDELOU]

Nov. 17, 2009 at 11:48 PM

Thanks for sharing!

[NWGCPresident]

Nov. 18, 2009 at 8:05 PM

**IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A CERTAIN PLANT OR HERB, ASK HERE AND I WILL FIND THE INFORMATION**.

     CHATHIE

(Original Poster)

[tenderheartmom]

Aug. 30, 2010 at 11:53 AM

Wow,  I've learn so much from this post today...didn't know that these

chocolate scented plants existed.  I want the geraniums as a house plant

and also the chocolate mint for my windowsill.  (yum)

[NWGCPresident]

Aug. 30, 2010 at 12:38 PM

  Thank you....I have the Chocolate Mint and it is GREAT for making "Special Coffee" WITHOUT the calories.......

(Original Poster)