Growing Catnip
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Have a green thumb? Maybe you'd like to try growing catnip yourself? Since we've seen so many good uses of catnip that you probably never knew before, you can probably think of several reasons why it would be beneficial to have around. It might be an interesting side project to learning to grow catnip.
How To Grow Catnip
Growing catnip is not as difficult as you might expect it to be. It is actually pretty easy to grow catnip in any garden soil from catnip seeds. Once you have a few flowers growing, catnip can also be propagated by root division and transplanting as well. Catnip, like any other weed-like plant, will spread easily to fill up your beds, planters, or pots. For best conditions of growing, catnip should be in full sun, though partial shade will still net you adequate plants. The US Dept of Agriculture advises to freeze the catnip seeds a time or three and only plant them after a good soaking in water.
The season for growing catnip to bloom is in the summer time, yielding white or purple flowers. Since it is a perennial, there will be no need to grow catnip anew each year. It'll take care of that for you! That said, you will need to protect it, as surely those pesky cats will find it, and if you let them, rip off the catnip leaves in a paroxysm of happiness, forcing you to get back to growing catnip from square one. Wire cages around the growing catnip should help to keep it safe.
Harvesting What You Grow
Catnip flowers are white or purple. You can harvest the catnip leaves on an as-needed basis. They should be mature and dry. Be very careful when harvesting, as you don't want to damage the catnip leaves. Any bruising or crushing will release the catnip oil, dulling the potency of the plant, and probably attracting neighbor cats eager for a treat. Then you will want to dry them in the sun. Be careful not to bundle them up, since this will damage the catnip leaves, reducing their odor and coloring. It is oft-repeated that cats will ignore catnip plants that have been grown from catnip seeds, but delight in transplanted or divided plants. This may be true, but since it's so easy actually growing catnip, this will only help you the first year that you grow catnip. After that, you'll have to take security measures.
Get Growing Catnip Plants!
Now that you know how easy it is growing catnip, go get some catnip seeds and get started growing catnip in your own sub-garden of catnip plants. Your cat will love you, and so probably will the neighbors' cats!
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[...] is a huge factor in what is catnip effectiveness on cats. Some people have become experts are growing catnip, while others buy bulk catnip. Be sure to store your catnip in a refrigerator or freezer to help [...]
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