I ’ve always made room in my garden for Nepeta cataria ( even though I ’m more of a dog someone ) . Native to Europe , catnip ( Nepeta cataria ) is exceedingly hardy and utilitarian . Established plants require picayune weewee or aid , and they spring up even in poor soil .
Catnip is an eatable , herbaceous plant , and I like to add its more untoughened , untested leave to refreshing salad . I also steep crush , dried Nepeta cataria folio and heyday in simmering water to make a appeasement , before - bottom Camellia sinensis . ( Before drinking your own catnip concoction , ask your MD about possible wellness risk and interactions with any medications you take . )
As forthe plant ’s other benefit ? Long after my other peak have hustle up their red carpet , catnip perseveres to pop the question area honeybees and other pollinators much - needed ambrosia . And , yes , many cats seem to like the stuff , too .
Catnip Caveats
This member of the mint family is n’t always well behaved . In fact , it circularise so readily that it ’s take a nuisance plant — particularly in protected natural sphere . you’re able to forage raving mad catnip develop in fields and along forests — provided it has n’t been treat with herbicides or insecticides , that is .
To corral the plants you grow , you’re able to keep it in large pot rather than the garden . If you do add it to a garden bed , keep its spread in check by periodically weeding and trimming . Because catnip can attract outside bozo , annul place it near shuttle feeders , nest box or bird baths for avail reduce razz predation .
Growing Your Own Catnip
There is an old rime about the plant that I ’ve found to be true :
If you set it , cat will eat it . If you inseminate it , cats wo n’t do it it .
When weeding , trimming , harvesting or examine to transplant catnip , it ’s easy to stir up and release the plant ’s fragrant fickle rock oil . This , in turn , will in all probability invite sphere cats to ravage your plants . If , however , you direct - seminal fluid it in an outside container or garden bed , cats do n’t seem to find it quite as easily .
Susan Brackney
Ideally , catnip seeds should be exposed to a period of cold before they ’re establish . That means place seed packets in your Deepfreeze for a few week . Or , if you last in a clime with comparatively cold spring temperatures , plainly plant seeds outside as early in the season as potential . Once soil temperatures reach 60 to 70 degrees , your seedling should shoot .
Harvesting and Drying
At maturity , catnip can grow as tall as 3 feet . When you ’re ready to harvest , pick out a ironical day and transfer only flowering Nepeta cataria . Rather than pull what you wish to harvest , allow for its root entire . Instead , rationalize plant life stalks a couple of inches above the grease line .
To dry out the Nepeta cataria , bundle low groups of stalks together and generally place them upside down in clean paper bags . advert the dish in a dark , ironic place until the industrial plant inside have dried completely . Depending on the temperature of your drying area , this appendage can take just a couple of hebdomad to about a calendar month .
Dried catnip is fragile and crumbly . Use your hand to break the leaves and flowers into small bits , discarding the stem as you go . Now , your dry out catmint can be brewed for afternoon tea or include in homemade cat toy . ( See below for one prompt project.)Susan Brackney
Susan Brackney
Toy to Try
If you have some scrap cloth , scissor hold , a acerate leaf and ribbon or a stitchery machine , some dressing and dried catmint , you’re able to easily whip up a Nepeta cataria - stuffed toy dog . For the computerized axial tomography toy visualise here , you need seven small fabric block in a few different designs . ( Each of my blocks measure out about 2 inches square . )
First , I stitched the blocks together to form a chain of four in one counseling . Then , I stitch the remain two cube on either side of the second block in the original chain . Next , I take shape an inside - out regular hexahedron and stitched the diametrical ends of the original chain to one another . After turning the cloth right - side - out again , I hand - stitched one end close . As I stitched , I carefully fold under all disclose , ragged edges . Susan Brackney
To glut the true cat toy , I used a mixture of polyester filling and dried catnip . Once the third power was fully stuffed , I helping hand - stitched the remaining clear end shut out , folding exposed , ragged edge as I went along .
Susan Brackney
Feeling extra ambitious ? You could include a small , conceal slide fastener in one end of the CT toy . This would enable you to refill it with fresh Nepeta cataria .
