CATNIP

Catnip

Catnip is a perennial plant growing to a height of approximately 24 inches with blossoms in early summer to late summer in zones 3 to 8. Requires moist and well drained soil in full sun. ..find your zone...

Catnip is known to bring good bugs into a garden and keep harmful ones out. Not only do the flowers smell good but the leaves have a nice aroma.

Many people grow catnip for their cats who are known to roll their bodies on the leaves. This plant will grow in poor soil and return each year without much care.

Start seed indoors near a sunny window 6 weeks before transplanting to the garden after danger of last frost. Or, sow in garden in full sun when frost danger is over and ground is warm. Make shallow furrows and cover seed 1/8" with loose soil. Thin or transplant plants to 20" apart when they are 2 inches tall. Catnip germinates in 8 - 12 days.

The flowers and the leaves are used as a medicine growing mainly in North America and Europe. Herbalists have used catnip to produce a relaxing effect also others have used for toothache, corns and hives. The oil of catnip has been used for insomnia, reduce gas and a digestive aid. Should not be used during pregnancy because of uterine contractions.

Good News! Research has been going on at Iowa State University that indicates the chemicals in Osage Orange and Catnip repel cockroaches and a few other insects. Studies have shown that cockroaches wander onto the treated surface will stop and turn away from that surface back to the untreated surface. So keep your fingers crossed.

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