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Catnip Seeds

The most inexpensive and rewarding way to have plenty of high-quality catnip on hand is growing your own from catnip seeds. This perennial herb will remain in your garden space for years. Besides its usefulness to make cats happy, these seeds grow into a powerful medicinal herb with many benefits for humans, too. Catnip can be used for making teas and other medicines, makes a wonderful hair rinse, and serves as nature’s insect repellent. Catnip grows best in direct sunlight and well-drained soil. The blooms serve as food for bees and butterflies, which makes catnip useful for other vegetables and flowers in the area.
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Survival Garden Seeds offers catnip plant seeds with high germination rates, perfect for creating a feline-friendly oasis. Our non-GMO seeds are chosen to ensure a lush catnip harvest.

Growing Catnip Seeds in Your Garden

  • Entices cats and attracts pollinators
  • Medicinal herb with aromatic leaves
  • Heirloom, non-GMO seeds
  • Excellent companion plant and pest repellent

INTRODUCING CATNIP SEEDS

Catnip is a part of the mint family. Native to Europe and Asia, it has become common throughout different regions. This is a hardy plant and is easy to grow outdoors in USDA zones 3 to 12, or indoors anywhere with sufficient light. Adaptable to different environments, it successfully grows year after year.

Nepetalactone, the active compound in catnips, attracts cats, giving them a sense of euphoria that can be either stimulating or calming. For humans, catnip has calming properties and is used in herbal remedies that are especially useful for digestive complaints.

HOW TO PLANT CATNIP SEEDS

For best results, start by cold-stratifying your catnip seeds. Dampen a paper towel and roll the seeds up inside. Place them into a refrigerator for 4-6 weeks. Next comes planting catnip seeds indoors (6 to 8 weeks before the last frost). You can also sow directly in the garden in spring or fall. These seeds need light to germinate so press them gently onto the soil surface without covering them. Make sure the soil is moist, and germination will occur within 7-10 days. Transplant seedlings to stand 12-18 inches apart.

MAINTAINING CAT NIP PLANTS

Once established, catnip is relatively easy to maintain, only requiring occasional watering. Although it prefers direct sunlight, in hot climates it can benefit from partial shading. Because it self-seeds abundantly, remove flowers if you wish to contain the spread. Harvest leaves in the morning before the plant flowers so that the leaves have the best aroma, especially useful if you intend to use them for tea or cat toys.

With Survival Garden Seeds' catnip seeds, gardeners can enjoy all of the benefits of this wonderful herb. Catnip is essential for any herb garden, whether you have cats or not. See for yourself the joys of growing your own catnip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are heirloom seeds?

Heirloom seeds are the types of seeds your grandparents grew. These varieties have been passed down from generation to generation. They’re old reliable open-pollinated varieties that aren’t typically grown commercially. Instead, they have a rich history that predates modern breeding techniques. You can learn more about open-pollinated, heirloom, and non-GMO seeds in our Survival Garden Training blog.

How do I know my seeds are fresh?

Every seed packet includes a "packed for" date, and we germination test each seed lot before packaging to ensure you receive viable, high-quality seeds that are ready to grow.

Are your seeds chemically treated?

No, we do not pre-treat our seeds. All of our garden seeds are untreated, open-pollinated, non-GMO, and heirloom varieties. They are kept in temperature-controlled cooler storage until they are packed and shipped to keep them pest and disease-free.

Will your seeds grow in my USDA Hardiness zone?

The seeds in our collections are specifically chosen from varieties that can be successfully grown from Zone 3 to Zone 10 USDA Hardiness Zones. However, individual varieties have specific needs to thrive in different environments. Each seed pack has optimal temperatures for germination and instructions on seed starting. Consult local frost dates to plan your garden and get the most out of your seeds.

What is the shelf life of these garden seeds?

Most seeds remain viable for 3 to 5 years or longer when stored properly. Check your seed packet for specific varieties. For best results, keep your seeds in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture. Store them in an airtight container in a consistent temperature environment—a refrigerator or cool basement works well. Proper storage helps maintain germination rates and extends seed life well beyond the packed date.

Where are Survival Garden Seeds sourced?

The majority of our seeds are sourced in the United States, with a few exceptions when the seed is difficult to source domestically. Whenever we do have to source outside of the US, we ensure our seeds are safe to grow, non-GMO, heirloom varieties that meet our standards for germination and reliability.

Learn more in the blog

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