Fl Gardening – A resource to help Florida gardeners grow food

What if you could grow your own catnip in Florida? Well you can! the best time to grow catnip is Florida is during the spring months. In North Florida it's best to plant in March. In central Florida the best time to plant is toward the end of February and in south Florida you can plant any time except december or january. Planting Catnip In Florida If you are looking to grow a beautiful plant, you should look no further than this herb. This herb makes for a beautiful plant in anyone’s garden, flower bed, or even their home. This plant has some medicinal properties, is very beautiful, and your cat, they may love you for it. Can I Grow Catnip In All Parts Of Florida? Yes, you can grow this herb in all parts of the state. This plant thrives on the warmer weather and will do amazing all over the area. This plant is relatively low maintenance, some people will display in the flower beds, and even containers. This herb should be contained in a flower bed or container because of its ability to spread prolifically. One plant can quickly take over a flower bed, so it is important to give it plenty of space. When Do I Plant This Herb in Florida? This will depend on whether or not you are starting your catnip from seedlings or if you are starting from plants. If you are starting from seed, you can start indoors first. You can then place the herb plants out sometime in February or March. In some areas, especially toward the Miami-Dade area, you may be able to keep these plants outside all year long. This can lead you to be able to plant year round. Best time to plant catnip in Florida: North: March - SeptemberCentral: February - DecemberSouth: February - October Does This Herb Like Full Sun Or Part Shade? This herb does its best in full sun. You will need to pick a sunny spot in your flower bed in order to ensure that catnip goes well. However, some herbs does well in part shade is always a good several hours of sunlight each day. If you are going to grow this herb in containers, make sure that you have them in the sun for at least part of the day. The more sun that they get, the better the herb will grow and flourish. If the herb is left in the shade all day, it may grow slightly, but it will not bloom and will eventually die. Best Soil For This Herb This herb is not a picky plant when it comes to soil. Since it is in the herb family, this herb can thrive in the poorest of soil. However, the soil does have to be well-drained. This plant will die if the roots are constantly soaked in water or sitting in standing water. This herb does like soil that is more alkaline, but can grow in just about any kind of soil. I usually make my own soil and have pretty good luck with this mix: 40% Peat moss (Check price on Amazon)40% Compost (You can get it on Amazon but I've found it way cheaper at local stores)20% perlite (Check price on Amazon)Worm castings (Check price on Amazon)Mykos (Check price on Amazon) To plant from seed, you will need to make sure that the soil is moist but not too moist. It is great to start these seeds in planters and transplant the plants at a later date. Make sure that you plant them in the soil well, but not too deep. Take a spray bottle and lightly wet the soil when it needs it, taking special care not to over water your herbs. After your plant sprouts and has grown enough to be transplanted outdoors, make sure that you dig a deep enough hole for the roots, but again not too deep. You will want to see the plant well. Make sure that there is no standing water when you plant the herb, and that there will not be any standing water in that area. After you have planted the herb, make sure it stays well hydrated and in the sun. How To Fertilize This Herb This plant does not have to be fertilized. It is very prolific on its own. However, if you wish to fertilize it, you can put peat or compost deep into the soil twice a year. If you prefer to use fertilizer on the herb anyways, you can use an all-natural organic fertilizer. If you have access to rabbit droppings, they make an excellent fertilizer for this plant. During the month of May, if you want to give blossoming fertilizer to help encourage more blossoms, you can. This will help the blossom stand out and look amazing. Uses Of Catnip There are many uses of this herb in the world today. Here are some of the uses of this plant. • Cats. It is common knowledge that this plant makes cats very happy. Some people grow this herb for the sole purpose of it being for their cats. Keep in mind that if you grow this herb, you may want to put a fence around it if you have stray cats in your neighborhood. They may cause damage to your growing plants if you are not careful. Planting this plant for your cat can give them happiness, and a good time. However, some cats are not affected at all by this herb and will not respond to it. • Coughs. The leaves and flowers of this plan can be used to help treat cough. This can be used either fresh or dried. A tea is commonly made to help alleviate coughs. Some people even make a cough syrup, which includes this herb. • Headache reliever. Drinking a herbal tea or using a salve can help reduce headaches. • Digestive issues. This plant has been shown to help alleviate some digestive issues. • Stress reduction. If you suffer from a lot of stress, this herb can help you to relax. It can either be consumed in a juice or tea, or it can even be smoked. • Cooking. This herb can be used as an ingredient in soups and sauces, and other culinary applications. Many chefs are adding catnip to their dishes on a regular basis. • Healing. A herbal salve can be made to help promote healing from a cut. It is best mixed in a carrier oil like coconut oil. • Mosquito repellent. The oil extracted from this herb and can be used as an all-natural very effective mosquito repellent. If you have mosquitos, you should definitely consider making repellent with your plants. How To Harvest And Dry This Herb For Your Cat Once your herb has flowered, it is time to harvest it. It is best to wait until a dry, sunny day after the morning dew has dried. You want to make sure that you do this before it gets too hot. You want to cut off the whole plant at the base. Once you cut it, you will want to find a dark dry place. You will need to make sure the area is well ventilated and no moisture can get in. You will need to leave this plant to dry for a while so that the flowers, stems, and leaves dry well. Once it has dried, you will want to place these in a freezer bag or glass jar. This will help to preserve the oil inside the plant. You will want to do all you can to keep that oil in them, especially if you use it for medicinal purposes or for your cat. This herb is not only beneficial for your cat as well as yourself, it is also beneficial for your property. This herb is a beautiful plant that makes a beautiful flower. Consider planning this herb on your property today for its multitude of benefits. It grows well in many areas and should be very prolific. Once you have a lot growing, you can even make money selling this herb. Many people would be interested in purchasing for their cats, and many chefs will be interested in buying to add to their culinary creations. You Might Also Be Interested In: Best Herbs To Grow In Florida