Easy steps for growing Catnip indoors through winter:

• When growing leafy herbs indoors for winter, it is easiest to think of them as baby greens; that is, rather than growing full-sized individual plants grow many younger plants in dense clusters and start harvesting when they are younger.
• Over winter, Catnip grows most productively under full spectrum (6400K) grow lights. Grow lights should be maintained 6 - 12” above plant tops and should be on 16 - 18 hours per day. 
• If not growing under lights, plan for the sunniest south window available, although productivity goes way up under grow lights. 
• Indoors, Catnip grows very well in shallow containers with drainage. We often use short 15 cm (6") pots for indoor herbs. Other ideas include recycled clam shells from store-bought greens or recycled flower pots.
• For completely easy baby greens use a composty soil. We use an organic potting mix blended with Sea Soil compost at a 60 / 40 ratio. By building in high-quality compost you can avoid any need for additional fertilizing.
• Catnip takes 7 - 14 days to germinate. The ideal temperature for germination is 21ºC; bottom heat will speed up germination and encourage faster seedling development. 
• Wet your soil medium before sowing then sprinkle seeds onto soil surface at approximately 30 - 40 seeds per 15 cm (6") pot. Press seeds gently into soil surface and spritz (or carefully water) to fully moisten.
• Check on seeds every few days to notice when they start to germinate. Maintain soil moisture without allowing the mix to be soggy.
• Catnip will grow as a baby green for approximately eight weeks (or until your cat finds it!) before a new crop will need to take over. Sow new pots every six to seven weeks to keep a constant supply.

Sowing for Spring/ Outdoor Growing:

• Germination: 7 - 14 days at 21 ºC
• When to Sow: 4 - 6 weeks before average last frost date indoors, or direct seed outdoors once all chance of frost has passed and soil is warm
• Starter Pots: 7.5 cm (3”) starter pots
• Soil: Well draining seed starting mix with worm castings
• Number of Seeds Per Pot: 5 - 8 seeds per starter pot, pressed lightly into moistened soil
• Where to Start: Place pots in the brightest window, or under full spectrum grow lights
• Watering: Water deeply, then allow soil to dry to the touch between waterings
• Transplanting: Transplant to outdoors in early June, once all chance of frost has passed and the ground has warmed up

Additional Tips for Indoor Growing:

• Great air circulation around your indoor garden makes everything better! If you are growing lots of plants indoors consider adding a small fan to your set-up.
• If using humidity domes over your trays: be sure to leave these off for at least one hour per day to allow for air circulation.
• Pests rarely occur on baby greens but it is a good idea to clean pots/trays with warm soapy water (or 10% bleach solution) between crops and generally keep your growing area tidy.
• Crops that are grown to larger than baby green size will likely require fertilizing for best productivity; we recommend Evolve Organic All-Purpose Fertilizer for our indoor gardens.

Harvesting Through Winter:

• Start harvesting when plants are several inches tall, typically around 35 - 45 days from germination for leafy herbs.
• Use sharp scissors to cut your greens - this helps plants regrow more quickly after harvest.
• The beauty of growing your own baby greens is that you can harvest just what you need when you need it!