catnip

Catnip: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden!

These cat-attracting plants are not only fun for your cats, but also can have many benefits. They can be used to make herbal tea or to simply flower in your garden to attract bees. Catnip is also a great plant to have around to use as companion plants to help deter bugs away from your vegetables.
These cat-attracting plants are not only fun for your cats, but also can have many benefits. They can be used to make herbal tea or to simply flower in your garden to attract bees. Catnip is also a great plant to have around to use as companion plants to help deter bugs away from your vegetables.

How to Grow:

Catnip can be planted indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost and transplanted outdoors after your last spring frost. Catnip can be planted in the fall as well, 8 weeks before your first fall frost. You can see specific dates for your location using our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App.

Catnip seeds are planted 1/8 inch deep, 1 per square foot, in the full sun to part shade. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below. Catnip should sprout between 7-10 days. Water weekly and be careful to not over-water!

Companion Plants:

Companion planting is a vital part of organic gardening. Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. There are also plants that do not like being next to each other. Some plants get too tall and can provide too much shade for your plant. Sometimes certain plants attract the same pests, so it is important to try and separate these. Herbs are especially great companion plants because they help to repel pests from your other plants!

         GoodBad
Acorn SquashMarjoramNONE!
BasilOregano 
Beans (Bush & Pole)Pumpkin 
BeetsRhubarb 
Brussel SproutsSouthern Peas (Black-Eyed Peas) 
Butternut SquashSpaghetti Squash 
Collard GreensSummer Squash (Zucchini) 
CucumbersTarragon 
MarigoldsTomatoes (Bush & Vine) 

See companion plants for 100+ foods in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web app!

Pests:

Pests can be one of the most difficult challenges you face in the garden. We strive to grow food without the use of pesticide and luckily there are natural solutions for most of these nasty pests! The pests listed below are common pests for catnip:

Learn more about how to manage pests and attract beneficial insects in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App!

Harvesting:

Catnip will be ready to harvest in approximately 75-85 days. Harvest leaves once the plant has been established by simply cutting entire stems at the base of the plants. The best time to harvest will be morning or afternoon when there is no dew present.

Cooking & Eating!

Use catnip fresh by keeping in the refrigerator or dry by hanging upside down in bunches in a cool, dark area. Use the dried leaves (or flowers) in an herbal tea which is said to relax you and help settle an upset stomach.

 

Learn more about growing over 100+ different foods, including how to manage various pests in our FREE iOS, Android, or Universal Web App!

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