Catnip

People use Catnip as a tea and of course, it drives cats wild. Gray green leaves and white blooms that are similar to other mints. Commonly known as catnip, catswort, or catmint. 

100 seeds

PLANTING

Nepeta cataria

Perennial, zones 3-9

Germination: 7-14 days

Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-75ºF

Seed Planting Depth:  Sow on surface, seeds need light to germinate.

Starting Indoors: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Provide 70-75ºF soil temperatures. Transplant into the garden after the last frost, 12-18” apart. 

Sowing Outdoors: After the last frost or late summer to early fall, very small seeds- sow seeds lightly in a prepared area, thin to 12” apart. Tip-Transplant the seedlings that are thinned out into other places in the garden. 

Growth Habit: Mounded, clump-forming

Height and Width: 24-30” x 24”  

Spacing: 12-18” apart

Light Needs: Full sun, part shade in the south

Soil Needs: Catnip needs average, well-drained soil 

Flowering: Early summer onward

Harvest: Once plants are established, start when foliage is 8-10” tall or when it is blooming. individual leaves or the entire plants. Dry individual leaves on a tray or in a dehydrator. Hang bundles upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space until dry

Uses: Culinary- use like you would mint, tea, medicinal, containers, attractive to our feline friends, flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects.

Care: Easy to grow, low maintenance. Cats will find it, especially once the oils are released from the leaves. 

Tips: Prune back after it flowers, it helps with reblooming and keeps the plant looking tidy. Pinch back seedlings to create a bushier habit.