Catnip is every cat’s favorite plant, and its drug-like, euphoric effect on our furry friends is well known to cat lovers. You can also use catnip, a member of the mint family, as a culinary herb and in herbal teas. If you grow catnip in the garden, you’ll need to know when and how to harvest the leaves.
Why Grow and Harvest Catnip?
If you have cats, you can simply buy catnip at the store, but when you grow it yourself, you know where it comes from and that it’s organic. It’s easy to grow and harvesting catnip is simple too. You can dry the leaves to use for cat toys, or let your cats try them fresh. Outdoor cats will also enjoy playing around the plants in the garden. For human consumption, catnip leaves are used in teas and salads and may be useful for soothing stomach upset, much like mint plants.
When to Pick Catnip
For your cat’s delight, the best time for picking catnip leaves is when the plants are flowering, around mid-summer. This is when the compounds that cats love most are at peak levels in the leaves. Harvest the leaves later in the day, when the dew has dried so you minimize the risks of the harvest getting moldy. Also, consider harvesting the flowers at this time.
How to Harvest Catnip Plants
Catnip plants grow quickly and will readily replace what you remove. However, they are more likely to regrow stems than single leaves, so to harvest, cut off entire stems close to the base of the plant. Then you can remove individual leaves and allow them out to dry on a screen or drying tray. Keep your catnip harvest in a place safe from cats. They will be drawn to the leaves and will destroy them before they are ready to store. Once dry, you can store catnip leaves whole or crushed in a sealed jar or bag in a cool, dark cupboard. You should be able to make a good harvest of catnip leaves at least twice in the growing season. Cut stems in the summer at bloom time and again in the fall and you should have a good supply to take you and your cats through the winter.
-
10 Best Apartment Plants To Turn Your Small Space Into An OasisThe best apartment plants can lend an ambience of the tropics, brighten up a space, or add a touch of drama, and turn an apartment into a relaxing oasis.
-
Grow a Bathroom Oasis: 8 Best Bathroom Plants With No Light or Low LightSome apartment dwellers grow the best bathroom plants with no light or low light. Read how one of our favorite plant lovers does it in the big city.
-
Catnip Winter Care – Is Catnip Winter HardyEven if you don’t have cats, catnip is a perennial herb that is easy to grow and attracts bees and other pollinators. You can even make a tasty and stomach-soothing tea from it. Depending on where you live, winter can be a little harsh on your catnip, so learn how to protect it here.
-
Cutting Back Catnip: Should I Prune Catnip PlantsCatnip is a no-fuss, easy-to-grow member of the mint family that requires little maintenance. What about pruning catnip plants though? Is cutting back catnip necessary? Click here to find out about pruning catnip plants and, if need be, how to prune catnip.
-
Planting Catnip For Cats: How To Grow Catnip For Cat UseIf you have cats, then you are more than likely to have given them catnip or have toys for them that contain catnip. As much as your cat appreciates this, he/she would love you even more if you provided them with fresh catnip. Learn about planting catnip for cats here.
-
Treating Catnip Diseases – How To Manage Problems With CatnipThere are few issues that will seriously affect the plant's health. They take quite a lot of abuse from overly interested neighborhood felines. However, if your plant looks sick, fungal issues are probably the most common diseases of catnip. Learn more here.
-
Catnip Propagation Methods – Tips For Growing New Catnip Herb PlantsDoes kitty love her catnip toys? Well then, perhaps you should grow your own catnip herb plants. Don’t know how to propagate catnip? Growing new catnip plants is easy. Click on the following article to find out about catnip propagation.
-
What Is Catnip For: Learn About Various Uses For CatnipThe name says it all, or almost all. Catnip is a common herb that you can cultivate in the garden but that also grows wild. Knowing how to use catnip means you can put this plentiful herb to good use for both you and your feline friends. Learn more in this article.
-
Catnip Plant Varieties: Growing Different Species Of NepetaCatnip is a member of the mint family. There are several types of catnip, each easy to grow, vigorous and attractive. Learn more about the various types of catnip plants that you can add to your garden here in this article.
-
Dogs And Catnip – Is Catnip Bad For DogsCats and dogs are opposite in so many ways that it is no surprise that they react differently to catnip. While cats delight in the herb, rolling in it and becoming almost giddy, dogs do not. So is catnip bad for dogs? Can dogs eat catnip? Find out in this article.
