Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: How to Grow Catnip from Seeds
• Part 2 of 3: How to plant seedlings
• Part 3 of 3: How to Care for Catnip and Harvest

Catnip is an herb that causes euphoria in cats. In addition, catnip has a calming effect on humans and is used to make an essential oil and add it to tea. It is used to treat headaches and nausea, and can also help with anxiety and sleep disorders. Its scented flowers attract bees and other pollinators, which is beneficial for the environment. Catnip is a relative of other species of mint, a perennial herb that is widespread in the temperate zone.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: How to Grow Catnip from Seeds

1. 1 Purchase catnip seeds. Both catnip seeds and catnip seedlings are available from your home or garden store.In addition, catnip seeds can be sold at the pet store.
   • If you want to save money and you know someone who already grows catnip, you can ask them for some seedlings or some seeds.
2. 2 When spring comes, plant the seeds directly in open soil. Catnip seeds should be planted during springtime. If you want to grow catnip right in your garden, sow the seeds as soon as the last frost is over. Place the seeds in the soil about 3 millimeters deep, at least 40 centimeters apart.
   • Water the seeds during the germination period, which lasts up to 10 days.
   • Seedlings should appear in ten days.
3. 3 Plant the seeds indoors in spring or fall. If you plan on sowing seeds indoors, this can be done in the spring or fall. Plant the seeds in separate pots or in a seedling tray. Make sure that they have enough sunlight, otherwise the sprouts may come out frail and thin. If you are unable to provide the plants with enough sunlight, you can place a fluorescent lamp over them. Water the seeds well during the germination period. If you are planting seeds in spring, wait for the sprouts to reach a height of 10-13 centimeters, and when the last frost is over, transplant them into open soil.
   • If you are planting seeds in the fall, place them near a window. It is best to choose a window that is illuminated by sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. In the spring, when the last frost is over, transplant the sprouts into open soil.
   • If you plant seeds in the fall, the plants will be thicker and more bushy.

Part 2 of 3: How to plant seedlings

1. 1 Plant your seedlings in a well-lit area, unless you live in a hot, dry climate. In most regions, catnip prefers sunny locations. If your area is characterized by a hot, dry climate, choose an area that is partially shaded in the afternoon. And in such climates, mint will need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, but when the sun is at its zenith, its bright rays can damage the leaves.
   • Catnip grows best in open soil, but it can also be grown indoors - in this case, keep the plants near a window that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.
   • If you are growing indoor catnip, place it no further than a meter from a sunlit window.
   • You can also grow catnip indoors away from well-lit windows, but in this case you need fluorescent lights that are powerful enough to provide the plants with enough light.
2. 2 Plant the plants 45-50 centimeters apart. If you are planting catnip indoors, use standard potting soil or take soil in your garden. The soil should be permeable to water and not too greasy or caked. Catnip, like most other herbs, prefers poor soil types. Make sure the seeds or seedlings have enough room to grow and plant them 45-50 centimeters apart.
   • The seedlings may look weak at first, but soon they will grow - they just need space to grow.
   • Catnip can grow in almost any soil, and it grows more scented in sandy lands.
   • Water the plants frequently after the first planting. After a couple of weeks, or after you see that the seedlings are used to the new place and begin to grow, start watering them only when the ground dries out to a depth of 5–8 centimeters.
3. 3 Consider growing catnip in pots. Once the catnip is comfortable, it can grow throughout the garden. To prevent such an invasion, you can grow it in separate beds fenced with stones. If you do not have such beds, you can use garden containers to control the growth of the grass.
   • If you like a grassy garden but don't want catnip to flood around, plant it in containers and bury it in the ground.
   • Buried catnip containers will prevent the roots from spreading to the rest of the garden.
   • Watch for new shoots and shoots outside of your garden pots or containers. Pull out such shoots and do not put too much soil into the container when burying it in the surrounding soil.

Part 3 of 3: How to Care for Catnip and Harvest

1. 1 Wait until the soil is dry before watering. Catnip likes dry soil; in too wet soil, its roots can begin to rot. When watering the grass, make sure that the soil is thoroughly saturated with moisture, right down to the roots. Wait for the soil to dry out before watering again (check it with your finger from time to time).
   • If the ground seems damp or wet, do not water the plants and check the soil later or the next day.
   • Catnip is quite unpretentious and tolerates drought well, so you should worry about excess rather than lack of moisture.
2. 2 Trim the grass and remove wilted flowers to allow for further growth. After the first bloom, remove the wilted flowers. Cutting the grass by about a third will encourage further growth and new flowers. Remove dead and dry leaves regularly.
   • Trim the grass and remove wilted flowers to make the plants more bushy and bloom more often.
3. 3 Divide root systems in the spring or fall. By dividing the root system, you can spread catnip or get new plants. Dig a mint-covered area that contains at least 2-3 stems, or remove the shoots from the pot if using garden containers. Dip the root ball into the water and wait until it is completely saturated with it. Use a clean trowel or garden knife to halve the root clump and repot both halves.
   • Continue watering the plants frequently after replanting the divided roots. Unlike ordinary plants, you should not wait until the ground is dry.
   • Separating roots can help prevent overgrowth, rejuvenate wilted plants, and share catnip with your friends.
4. 4 Make sure your cat does not damage catnip or other plants. Catnip attracts cats, they love to bite its leaves and wallow in it. If you release your pet outside, do not plant catnip next to delicate flowers and plants so that the cat does not damage them. If you are using garden containers, do not place them where they can easily fall or topple over.
   • You can use a fence, trellis, or bamboo perches to support the catnip and protect it from your pet.
5. 5 Collect the leaves and dry them outdoors. To harvest the leaves, trim the branch at the base or just above the junction of the leaves, or trim the entire bush. You can trim off individual leaves where they attach to the trunk to speed up the growth of catnip. It is best to dry the leaves outdoors.
   • Place the leaves on paper towels and place them on a sunlit windowsill for 2-3 days.
   • If you are cutting whole plants, you can hang them upside down in a cool place for several weeks.
   • Do your best to prevent your cat from reaching the drying leaves. Cover the room where the leaves are drying, otherwise the animal may jump into them.
   • Transfer the dried leaves to a tightly resealable container and store in it.