Catnip is known for its euphoric effects on cats. It also has a sedative effect on people and is used to extract the essential oil which is then used to make herbal teas. Its medicinal properties are especially useful for treating headaches, nausea and controlling sleep disorders and anxiety. Its fragrant flowers also attract bees and other pollinating insects, bringing great benefits to the environment. Since it is part of the mint family, it is easy to grow it; it is a perennial plant and thrives in a wide variety of different types of climates across Europe.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Growing Catnip from Seeds
Step 1. Buy the seeds
You can find both seeds and seedlings ready to be planted in nurseries and garden centers; they are also sometimes available at pet stores.
If you want to save money and know someone who is already growing catnip, you might want to ask them for a seedling or some seeds
Step 2. Plant the seeds directly in the garden in spring
You can only put them outdoors in this season; if you plant them directly in the ground outside the home, sow them immediately after the threat of possible frosts has been averted. Bury them about 5cm deep and space them at least 40cm apart.
- Water them carefully during the germination period, which lasts up to ten days.
- After this time, you should start seeing sprouts.
Step 3. Plant the seeds indoors in spring or fall
If you have decided to germinate them indoors, these are the right seasons to do so. Plant them in individual pots or in a seed tray and water them well as they sprout. If you have chosen to sow them in the spring, grow the seedlings until they reach 10-13 cm in height and then transplant them outside when there is no longer any risk of frost.
- If, on the other hand, you have decided to grow the plants in the fall, grow them in front of a sunny window, so that they receive at least six hours of sunshine a day; transplant them outside in spring or when there is no longer the risk of frost.
- Sowing in autumn results in bushy and bushy plants.
Part 2 of 3: Growing Young Seedlings
Step 1. Plant them in the middle of summer, unless you live in a hot, dry climate
Catnip prefers full sun in most locations. If you live in a very hot and dry climate, however, you need to plant them in an area that offers shade and protection from the afternoon sun. The seedlings need at least six hours of sun every day, but in the particularly hot southern regions the sun's rays follow a more perpendicular trajectory and are warmer; they could therefore cause damage to the leaves.
- Catnip grows best outdoors, but it also thrives indoors as long as you keep it in a place near a window where the sun's rays come in for at least six hours.
- If you have opted for an indoor grow, don't keep the plants more than a meter away from a sunny window.
- Alternatively, if you have the option of installing high-performance fluorescent lights for indoor growing, you can still grow the plants indoors away from the sunny window.
Step 2. Space the plants apart by at least 45-50 cm
If you are growing them in pots, use regular potting soil or garden soil. The soil must be well-draining, but it must not be too rich or compacted. There is no need to apply fertilizers, unless the soil is very low in nutrients: if something grows in that land, you will also be able to grow catnip. Plant the seedlings leaving them ample space to develop, spacing each other by at least 45-50cm, to avoid overcrowding.
- As soon as they are planted, they may seem thinned out, but they need space to grow and you will soon see that they will take up the whole area.
- Catnip can grow in almost any soil type, but in sandy soil it tends to be more aromatic.
- Water the young plants often after the first planting. After a couple of weeks or when you see them starting to settle and grow, you only need to wet them when the soil is dry.
Step 3. Consider placing them in jars
Once established, the catnip seedlings grow aggressively and begin to occupy the entire garden. If you want to prevent them from invading the whole lawn, like a real weed, you have to put them in a controlled place, for example a space with permanent stones that act as dividers. If you don't have the ability to bury them in a confined space, use containers to have total control of the location and speed of growth.
- If you want your garden to look like a herb garden, but don't want to risk catnip taking over, plant it in containers and plant them in.
- The technique of placing the plants in pots and burying the containers in the soil allows you to limit and keep the root system under control, preventing it from spreading throughout the garden.
- Pay attention to any buds and new shoots that may grow outside the pots. Tear them off when you see them and don't put too much soil on top of the containers when you bury them.
Part 3 of 3: Grooming and Harvesting Cat Grass
Step 1. Wait until the soil is dry before watering it again
Catnip plants prefer dry soil and roots may rot in too wet an environment. When watering, make sure you soak the roots thoroughly; then let the soil dry completely and check it by touching it with your finger, before wetting it again.
- If the soil feels damp or wet, don't water the plants and do a second check later or the next day.
- Catnip is quite robust and quite resistant to drought; you must therefore be more careful not to overdo the water, rather than watering it a little.
Step 2. Cut and tear off dead plant tips to encourage new growth
Once the first flowering is over, you need to remove the withered flowers. Cut the seedling to a third of its height to encourage new growth and allow the new buds to bloom; promptly remove all dead or dry leaves.
By cutting off the dead tips, you help the plants grow thicker and the flowers can grow more evenly
Step 3. Separate the root system in spring or fall
You can propagate plants, that is, create new ones, dividing their root system. Remove a group of plants with at least two or three stems from the ground or remove them from the pot if you have opted for this solution. Soak the root ball until it is completely soaked in water; use a clean trowel or garden shovel to separate the roots and then replant each individual plant.
- Continue watering frequently after dividing them. Don't let the root system dry out, as you would with normal adult plants.
- By separating the roots, you can control overgrowth of seedlings, revive any that are losing vigor, or simply share them with a friend.
Step 4. Prevent your cat from harming catnip plants or surrounding ones
Cats are obviously attracted to these plants, they love to "gnaw" their leaves and lie down on them. If you have an outdoor cat, do not plant catnip near other delicate flowers or plants that you fear will be damaged by the animal; if you have decided to put the plants in pots, avoid keeping them in places where they can be easily knocked over and broken.
Consider using fencing material, stiffeners, or bamboo sticks to support the seedlings and prevent the cat from lying on them
Step 5. Collect and air dry the leaves
To collect the grass, cut it at the base of the stem or just above the root of the leaf. By cutting it off at this point or where the leaf branches off from the stem, you encourage new, faster growth. Air drying is the best storage method for catnip leaves.
- Leave them lying on a paper towel and place them on the sunny windowsill for two or three days.
- Do your best to keep the cat away from the leaves you are drying; you could consider putting them in a room with the door closed, to prevent the cat from jumping on them.
- Once dry, place them in an airtight container to store them.
