Transplant catnip seedlings for winter cat treats

Another wonderful cat gift for the holidays, or any time of year, is to give catnip plant starts.

Although it's cold, our catnip plants are still doing well in the garden so this is a good time to dig up a few plants.

Find a clean, washed out 4" pot; I'll run some periodically in the dishwasher on hot, then rinse with watered down vinegar and water.

Dig up the whole root ball; add a few rocks, styrofoam peanuts or broken up crockery to the bottom, and soil; then add root ball. Add soil to pack it in. Water. Place in a sunny window, hopefully away from curious cats.

After harvesting fresh catnip, we'll leave the plants alone for several weeks so they can re-establish themselves, then dig up seedlings.

We don't use chemicals in Bluebird Gardens so the seedlings are safe.

Catnip plants grown outside will grow to 3 feet so we don't crowd plant starts; our goal is for the plants to survive enthusiastic feline visitors over winter so we can get an early crop started next spring.

Our cats also enjoy having their favorite green treat through winter!

Potted in standard 4 inch clay pots, catnip seedlings make nice holiday gifts for cats and their cat-loving friends.

Have you raised catnip for your cats?

Charlotte