Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

emmaroseemmarose Posts: 21
in Plants

Taking my 'crazy cat lady' reputation to new heights and am planting some catnip for my furry monsters.

Seeds were late coming in from T&M (apparently they had to wait for a delivery) so I planted some at the end of August when I got them and have left them on a sunny windowsill. They've shooted well but not sure what to do with them now.  Is it too late to put them outside?  Was going to keep them pot-bound, as being a member of the mint family the shoots will no doubt spread if I put them into the ground.

Was thinking of just a window box for now - planting the shoots in that and leaving them outside?  It's a sturdy enough plant to grow apparently - frost hardy anyway - but temperature is dropping here now so don't want to kill off the shoots either.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,
em

 

Posts

  • GardenGrower11GardenGrower11 Posts: 312

    You could keep it potbound and on the windowsill for now. I've grown it for a few years, and it sometimes survives the winter outdoors, but not always. It also sometimes self seeds and grows again in the same patch, but again, not always, probably because cats love it too much and nibble it and roll all over it before it gets established and grows again.

    I grow it in pots in the greenhouse, and plant out when its established, into an area of the garden where I'm happy for the cats to enjoy it. It over winters ok in the greenhouse and is ready for the garden in spring, as well as a fresh source of leaves for the cat in winter when there would be none still growing outdoors.

    My seeds were originally Mr F's rather than T&M, but they look like the same variety, Nepeta Cataria.

    http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/catmint-(nepeta-cataria)-267318

  • biofreakbiofreak Posts: 1,089

    Hope you haven't got a Tom Cat - He will eat every scrap and p--- on the roots effectively killing the poor plant! I find my catnip self seeds very well, especially of you do not cut it back in Winter.Boots the Bengal loves leaves rubbed on his fur, keeps him happy for hours washing!! - Whereas Gingerman thinks it is revolting stuff and won't go near.

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,697
    I would tend to keep the baby plants indoors for the winter rather than exposing them to the potentially cold weather to come. I have the common catmint and the giant variety in the garden (and on the allotment for the insects to enjoy) and it does self seed quite freely so you should get a lot more for your money once the plants are established. If you want to protect them from cats you can make wire cages for the shoots to grow through and that way the base of the plant will be out of the reach of feline drug addicts.
  • emmaroseemmarose Posts: 21
    Thanks a million for your advice; this has really helped as I couldn't find anything useful online.



    Have two neutered males and a spayed female feral who comes to visit every now and again so will be interesting to see what they make of it!



    Thanks again,

    Em image
  • GardenGrower11GardenGrower11 Posts: 312

    From what I've read, not all cats react to it, but maybe around 2/3rds plus. Of those, some prefer it fresh and green and straight off the plant, others prefer it dried like it would be in cat toys.

    It's a wonderful plant, both for cats and pollinating insects.

  • emmaroseemmarose Posts: 21
    Hi Chris. Yes did hear that it's very attractive to butterflies. So if the two lads don't like it, hopefully it'll appeal to someone (or rather something!) else!
Sign In or Register to comment.