How to Germinate Catnip

Not indigenous to North America, catnip (Nepeta cataria) is naturalized there and is a perennial herb and member of the mint family. It has the mint family's characteristic square stems and heart-shaped, opposite leaves with pinnate edges. It also features clusters of tiny flowers that grow at the ends of stems that originate in the leaf axils. Although a favorite of cats, bees prefer its flowers to those of almost any other plant. Rats and garden flea beetles are, respectively, repelled and deterred by it. Although easily grown from seeds like almost all annual flowers, catnip regrows from its roots each spring, like all herbaceous perennials.

Garden claw or shovel
Garden rake
Hose nozzle
Hardware cloth screen box

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a spot to plant catnip seeds that is in full sun to partial shade, with average to slightly infertile soil.
- 2
  Loosen the soil in the planting area to a depth of approximately 2 to 3 inches. Use a garden claw to rough-up the soil or turn it over with a shovel. Then, smooth the surface of the soil in the bed with a garden rake.
- 3
  Scatter seeds of catnip in the planting bed. Either broadcast the seeds evenly in the seedbed, or sow several seeds in each spot, spacing the spots about 12 inches apart in all directions. Do not cover the seeds with additional soil. Gently firm the surface of the soil in the seedbed with your hands so the seeds are in good contact with the soil.
- 4
  Water the seedbed immediately after planting it. Use a hose nozzle set to mist and moisten the surface of the bed. Check the area daily and mist when needed to keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate in seven to 14 days.
- 5
  Thin the seedlings so they stand about 12 inches apart, when they have two sets of true leaves. Give the thinned plants to your cats.

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