Catnip is also known as catswort and catmint. It's a perennial from the Labiatae family or also known as the Mint family. Catnip is aptly named because this herb is loved by all cats. Not exactly all cats, but most cats are in love with Catnip and behave themselves very peculiar when they've come in contact with it. Also bees, butterflies and other benificial insects find Catnip attractive. Catnip is a very versatile herb that's used in the kitchen and in alternitive medicin. Catnip is used in alternitive medicin because of it's calming, fieverreducing, expectorant, blood cleansing and perspiration reducing qualities. It's also used against headache, jaundice and anemia.
You can also add Catnip to soups or salads. The flavour of Catnip is very mint- and lemon-like. You can make tea from Catnip leaves. This tea is very soothing and calming. Catnip is a very attractive perennial and a member of the mint family often used as ground cover for border and garden. You can use the dried leaves of Catnip to colour wool and cotton. It has lavender blue flowers. It needs a lot of sun and can be grown on every soil. It is very easy to grow from seed, but it has a long germination period. To encourage self seeding, prune the plant all the way back after flowering. Semi-hardy Perennial.
Indoor sowing: March - April
Outdoor sowing: May - July & September - October
Germination: 7 - 21 days
Germination temp. 18 - 22 °C
Sowing depth: shallow
Planting distance: 30 - 40 cm
Plant position: Full sun, warm and sheltered
Flowering period: May - October
Harvest period: May - July
Sow indoors from March to April in seed trays filled with moist seed compost. Scatter the seeds thinly over the surface and do not cover them with soil, as catmint requires light to germinate. Gently press the seeds onto the surface and keep the compost evenly moist. Cover the tray with a clear lid or plastic film to maintain humidity and place it in a warm location with a constant temperature of 18 - 22 °C. Avoid placing the tray on a sunny windowsill, as temperatures can fluctuate considerably. Seedlings usually emerge within 7 to 21 days. Remove the cover once germination has started and place the seedlings in a bright location.
When the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them into individual pots. From early May, begin hardening them off by placing them outdoors during the day for 10 - 14 days. After this acclimatisation period, the plants can be transplanted to their final position from mid-May, once all risk of frost has passed.
From May onwards, the seeds may also be sown directly outdoors. Sow thinly on the soil surface without covering the seeds, as they are light germinators. Press them gently into the soil and keep the seedbed evenly moist during germination. Outdoor sowing is also possible in September or October. During winter, the seeds undergo a natural cold period (stratification), which may improve germination the following spring. Once the seedlings are well established, thin them to a spacing of 30 - 40 cm.
Catmint grows best in a warm, sheltered position in full sun with well-drained soil. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant and only requires watering during prolonged dry periods. Poorly drained or waterlogged soil should be avoided. The plant forms broad, bushy clumps that gradually spread, so allow sufficient space between plants. Like many members of the mint family, catmint may outcompete weaker neighbouring plants.
After the first flowering period, from May to July, the faded flower stems can be cut back. Avoid cutting into the old woody stems. Pruning encourages compact growth and usually results in a second flowering period from August to October. Catmint is a hardy perennial that overwinters reliably in temperate climates. The leaves and young flowering shoots can be harvested from May to July and used fresh or dried for herbal tea, scented sachets or other herbal applications. For the best aroma, harvest on a dry, sunny day.
