Growing Catnip

Place your seed package in the refrigerator or freezer overnight prior to sowing. It is then recommended that you soak the seeds in a bowl of water for 24 hours. This is called "stratification" and tends to improve germination greatly by weakening the hard seed shell.

Plant your catnip seed just under the surface of a compost-filled pot and water well. Keep warm but out of direct sunlight (a dark place is preferred). Preferred temperature is 72-75F. Cover the pots/containers with plastic wrap. Monitor the soil and make sure that it is kept damp.

When the seedlings first appear (in 2 to 3 weeks) either thin out the weakest and only plant the strongest looking ones, or else plant them all into individual pots. Do not do this before the second set of leaves appear (the first 'true' leaves)!!

Move the new seedlings to a sunny windowsill or into partial shade outdoors. I transplant them into the garden when they reach 4-5" tall.

Catnip plants like a lot of water when growing, so you may have to water them twice a day. When all risk of frost has passed, plant them out in the garden, about 18" apart. They tolerate sun through to semi-shade, but if you live in a warm climate they might be better off in the shadier parts of the garden. They like neutral to slightly alkaline, well-drained soils.