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Catnip — Herbs | DarkGrow Seed Bank

Name: Catnip
Brand: DarkGrow Seed Bank

75-85days to harvest

7-14 daysdays to germinate

Z3–9USDA zones

Easydifficulty

Heirloom

Sowing

Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant after frost danger; or direct sow in spring after soil warms

Cultivation

Sun: Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
Water: Moderate; regular during establishment, drought-tolerant once established
Soil: Well-drained, tolerates poor to moderate soil; prefers lean conditions
Spacing: 18-24 inches
Height: 2-3 feet
Season: Perennial

Appearance & flavour

Colour: Gray-green leaves with white to pale pink flowers
Shape: Soft, oval leaves; small tubular flowers in dense spikes
Flavour: Minty-floral with subtle peppery notes; warm and slightly sweet when brewed as tea

In the kitchen

Herbal tea, medicinal infusions, cat toy filling, dried herb blends

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests: Rarely affected; occasional spider mites or aphids under stress
Diseases: None significant; exceptionally disease-resistant

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Zone	Start indoors	Transplant	Direct sow	Harvest
3	April – May	June – July	—	July – October
4	March – April	June – July	—	July – October
5	March – April	May – June	—	June – October
6	March – April	May – June	—	June – November
7	February – March	April – June	—	June – November
8	February – March	April – May	—	May – December
9	January – February	March – April	—	April – December
10	January	February – April	—	April – December

Companion planting

8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.

TomatoesCatnip repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms that commonly attack tomatoes

PeppersCatnip deters aphids, spider mites, and flea beetles that damage pepper plants

EggplantCatnip repels flea beetles and Colorado potato beetles that attack eggplants

SquashCatnip helps repel squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and aphids

CucumberCatnip deters cucumber beetles, aphids, and ants that can damage cucumber vines

BroccoliCatnip repels cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles that attack brassicas

CarrotsCatnip helps repel carrot flies and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

RosesCatnip repels aphids, ants, and Japanese beetles that commonly infest roses

Avoid

Black WalnutProduces juglone which inhibits catnip growth and can cause wilting

FennelAllelopathic properties inhibit growth of catnip and most other herbs

RueStrong allelopathic compounds can stunt catnip growth and development

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories (per 100 g): 23
Protein (g): 3.15
Fat (g): 0.64
Carbohydrate (g): 2.65
Fibre (g): 1.6
Sugars (g): 0.3
Vitamin A (µg): 264
Vitamin C (mg): 18
Vitamin E (mg): 0.8
Vitamin K (µg): 415
Vitamin B6 (mg): 0.155
Folate (µg): 68
Calcium (mg): 177
Iron (mg): 3.17
Magnesium (mg): 64
Phosphorus (mg): 56
Potassium (mg): 295
Zinc (mg): 0.81
Selenium (µg): 0.3

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Where to buy seed and equipment

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the herbs growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

Catnip

Sowing

Cultivation

Appearance & flavour

In the kitchen

Pests, disease & resistance

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Companion planting

Avoid

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Where to buy seed and equipment

Grown Catnip?

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