What is catnip?
Catnip, catnip or catmint are commonly used names for many species and varieties of catfisha hardy perennial herb. Nepeta cataria it is the species generally known as the «true» catnip and is said to have the most aromatic leaves.
This plant gets its name because cats love the strong minty smell of the crushed leaves and they love to gnaw on the foliage, sometimes even rolling over the plant.
Dried catnip leaves are widely used as a stuffing for pet toys, so felines can enjoy the fragrance all year round. Catnip is edible and useful for humans too: the leaves and flowers can be used for flavoring dishes, making tea, and as an insect and pest repellent.
The only downside to growing catnip is that it is almost guaranteed to attract neighborhood cats to your garden.
Catnip is an excellent garden plant, flowering through much of the summer. Nepeta cataria forms a cluster of slender, branched stems covered with grayish-green toothed leaves, up to 90 cm tall and 60 cm wide.
The flower clusters, composed of many small flowers, are violet flecked with white and are heavy during the summer.
The flowers are rich in nectar and attract bees along with a wide selection of pollinating insects. Although this species is decorative, other species and varieties of catmint have greater ornamental value.
how to cultivate
The plants are available for purchase and planting at any time of the year, in a sunny spot with well-draining soil, or in a large pot. Alternatively, grow from seed, sowing from spring to fall.
Cut dead stems during the dormant period and before new shoots begin to appear in mid-spring.
where to cultivate
The catnip plant needs free-draining soil and grows best when it gets plenty of sun. Plant on the edge of a flowerbed, in an elevated spot, or in a large pot. Once established, catnip is drought tolerant.
how to plant
Plant in a pot at any time of the year, with autumn or spring being ideal. It grows in poor to moderately fertile soil without manure or additional fertilizer.
If the soil is heavy and slow to drain, incorporate coarse sand before planting or grow catnip in a raised bed. Water immediately after planting and keep moist during dry spells in the first few months if planting in spring.
how to care
Catnip is easy to grow and needs very little care once established.
how to propagate
Sow the seeds from spring through late summer, in a small container or compost tray with the damp seeds and lightly covering them. When the seedlings are big enough to handle, transplant into individual 9 cm pots and grow without heat until they are big enough to plant.
Divide established clumps at least 3 years old, while dormant, in autumn or early spring.
how to prune
When the first main flush of flowers is over in late summer, cut the stems that have bloomed, leaving the young growth without flowers. This enhances bush development and can encourage a repeated flush of flowers.
In autumn the plant dies and returns to the ground and the dead stems can be cut back any time before spring. Leaving dead growth for as long as possible provides shelter for beneficial insects through the winter.
pests and diseases
Nepeta cataria it is generally pest and disease free. Powdery mildew can occur in dry summers and is seen as a white coating on leaves, but requires no action.
*Via Gardeners World