Catnip

Catnip is a low-maintenance, easy plant to grow. Sow indoors anytime from early spring, or directly outdoors once the soil has warmed up a bit. Scatter seeds on the surface and press into the soil; don’t cover with soil as the seed requires light to germinate. Germination can be erratic, especially in cooler temperatures, so be patient and keep the tray / pots moist to allow seeds to keep germinating over a period of several weeks. Scarification is said to improve the germination rate, but we have always had decent results without.

Catnip prefers full sun and well-draining soils. It does not like waterlogged soils and will die off if overwatered. When in full flower the plants reach around 2-3 feet and become quite bushy, so allow a spacing of around 2 feet. It is a fast grower and will normally flower by mid-July in its first year.

Catnip is like a gentle thyme or oregano. It contains some of the powerful thymol and carvacrol but at lower levels. This gentle nature has led it to being included in many recipes for children’s health. Especially tummy upsets with loose bowels. This calming effect is also seen in its use for fraught nerves and anxiety too. Its warming and diaphoretic properties come to the fore when drunk as a warm tea to induce a mild sweat during seasonal colds too.

For using herbs with children see here.

The first flush of leaf growth is the lushest and best for harvest before the flower spikes appear. You can also harvest the stalks as it comes into flower later in the summer too, so leave some of your catnip patch for that as well. Tie the stems up in bunches and leave to air dry or lay out on drying racks and place in a dryer.

For a simple cup of tea use a fresh sprig or a teaspoon of the dried herb in a cup of freshly boiled water and leave covered to infuse for 15 minutes.

Or you can make a 1:5@45% tincture.