How to Cut Catnip

Catnip isn't just for cats. The leafy herb provides a flavorful addition to herbal tea blends and can be used as a seasoning for foods. The plant grows as a hardy perennial, dying back to the ground during winter, but resuming growth in spring. The plant blooms several times each summer, allowing you to harvest it multiple times. The plants develop their best flavor when flowers are present and the leaves are filled with the oils that give the plant its aroma. Cutting correctly ensures best flavor, scent and future regrowth.

Things You'll Need

• Shears

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Check the plants daily once flower buds form on the stems. Cut the catnip once the flowers are in full bloom.

   • 2

     Cut the stems of the catnip back to within 2 to 3 inches of the base of the plant, above where the stems emerge from the crown and root system. Use a pair of clean, sharp shears for harvesting.

   • 3

     Continue watering the catnip plants after cutting. The plants regrow and flower a second time. Cut the catnip during each bloom, and regrow it afterward for future harvesting.