I am looking for catnip. Does it grow from seed, do you buy it as a plant. My kitties had never had catnip until about 2 weeks ago, and they love it. Would like to start a pot for them. I have seeds to trade if anyone can help me out.
CLOSED: I want catnip.
oh boy, does it ever grow from seed! I try to deadhead the plants so they don't get out of control, but definitely missed some last year, as there are quite a few "volunteers" popping up in various places. It's a tough little plant!
I think I have a few seeds squirreled away, but I'm also thinking I could try sticking a couple of rooted springs (smallish clumps) in a BE for you....
I was thinking I could use some (hydrated) powdered Watersorb & a baggie around the roots, then wrap the tops florist-style in some paper for extra protection. I'm going to try this method to send somebody else a little mint.....
Does anyone have experience sending small divisions or rooted cuttings in a BE? It seemed to me like it would work with things that aren't especially delicate. Even if the leaves get bruised, with mint or catnip I'm thinking all you really need are some healthy roots to pot up on arrival. ??
Critter: I would love a start, or seeds, will be happy to trade something for it, or pay for the postage. Just let me know. I have never sent any plant by mail, but I don't see why, if wrapped in a moistened towel, then plastic and in a BE, it would'nt be okay. I don't have a trade list yet, because I'm fairly new, but have plenty of annual and perennial seeds to share. Are you looking for anything in particular?
I'll send out an envelope this week & will let you know when it's on its way!
I'm a little overwhelmed with seeds & transplanting at the moment, so let's not worry about figuring out a trade.... we'll just call it a gift from my kitty to yours! :-)
Critter, thanks so much, let me know about the postage and I will send it. Bonnie Ethington (defoecat)
Did you see this thread too by chance?
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/501022/
hmmm.... Japanese Catnip..... I may have to send gerris2 some email.... no, no, too many seeds started already! :-)
Bonnie, I noticed you may be attending the MidAtlantic RU. I'm hoping to go too, but it depends on a timing thing that isn't sure yet.
Anyway, don't worry about postage; I can always swap you for something at the RU if I go.... I can bring you a nice big clump of catnip then too, in case the starts don't make it.
I just started several pots from seed and they are sprouting. I had one plant going that I purchased but my 2 cats found it and it was obliterated in about 3-4 minutes. It wasn't large but they rolled in and ate the whole thing including stems.
Jan...
If you plant catnip outside in the garden or wherever; just remember to put a used bird cage over it so it has time to grow before it gets chomped to death. I got a bird cage from someones garbage, the kind with 4 sides and a wired top also. When the catnip grows up; it can grow through the wires on top and out the sides; but they can't destroy the roots, they just get what comes out of the cages' sides and top.
It's alot of fun to watch too! They can't figure how to get in! You can hold it in the ground with 'Garden Staples' the kind you'd use for the gardening cloth etc...
~* Robin
Gerris, if you mean me, I think I have my hands over-full trying to start what I have right now. I know we'll be doing another swap when/if my new salvias produce seed, so maybe I'll manage to remember to ask about the Japanese Catnip seed then. If there's anything other than salvias you're still looking for (seed), send me DG email and I'll take a run through my stash. There may also be a chance we could both make it to the midAtlantic swap, and if so we can trade some starts there....
BTW, the S. yunnanensis and the 2 S. indica seedlings are looking grrrrreat! Thanks again!
yippeee!
Does your Japanese Catnip overwinter as well, or do you start it from seed each year?
You'll have to give us a report on how it does for you this summer and on how well your cats (or the neighbors' cats) like it!
Oh, whoops, Bonnie I just looked at the RU thread, and it's Dravencat who's planning to go.... I got mixed up!
DH offered to stop by the USPS substation for me, so if he can do that tomorrow I will get your catnip packed up tonight. Sorry to keep your kitty waiting!
Critter: I am a fairly new member here, and with spring here, starting seeds and tilling beds, plus squeezing in some house cleaning, I haven't had time to create a trade list. After the spring planting, I promise I will do that. I think I have all I can handle for awhile. DH and I raise a huge garden, then my annuals, and I have a new area that I am planting vines, sunflowers, something tall or vining on a fence that will screen a dog area. Boy, don't want to go into that, as someone reamed me out but good for having dogs in a small confined area. They are not. This area is approximately 1/4 acre, but anyway administration intervened and the misunderstanding was straightened out. But back to seed trading. I have several varieties of tomatoes, any garden seed, beans, peas, corn, etc. then have petunias, snapdragon, coleus, gardellia, sun flowers, morning glory, sweet pea and on and on. If I have time later this pm, I will go through seeds and list others I have. If you are interested in anything I listed above, let me know. I really appreciate your generosity with the catnip. Yes, I am planning on going to the Kentucky roundup, but won't be seeing you at yours.
I'm pretty overwhelmed with seeds & seedlings etc etc at the moment as well, so as I said, no trade is needed, but thanks for offering. Glad to make another kitty happy! Who knows, perhaps we will get to the KY RU this fall.... I'm grinning just thinking about it, even if it is pretty much an outside chance.
If you get down this way, my welcome mat is always out. Get some good southern hospitality, and southern cookin', would love to have you.l
you're a gem!
and likewise, if you're ever up this way, give me a holler!
I just talked to DH, and he says tomorrow is full of meetings, so Friday is a better bet for sending stuff out. I like to send out from the substation when I can, as it gets there a couple of days sooner, and I figure less transit time is better even for tough plants.
(edited because I stuttered on the "send" button)
This message was edited Apr 20, 2005 5:40 PM
Hey, sorry for all the delays -- between my migraines & DH's schedule last week, nobody made it to the post office. Your catnip finally went out yesterday morning, from the USPS substation, so you should get it today or tomorrow.
PLMK what condition it arrived in, as this was a packaging experiment. I tried to protect it inside a skinny cardboard box inside the BE, so hopefully you'll have some undamaged foliage as well as roots. Give any broken leaves to the kitties! BTW, the jellylike stuff around the roots is hydrated WaterSorb powder, so just leave that on when you pot it up.
I hope it does well for you!
Critterologist:
You have mail!
If you need some catnip plants, I have extras that I may just compost. My cats love it! What part of KY are you in?
Teresa
Gerris2
Sorry to be so long in answering your question. I am currently working on a trade list. Listed it all (paper form) and looked up botanical names, but have not gotten it entered. Thanks for your offer of catnip, but critterologist sent me a plant. Are you looking for anything in particular. I would be happy to share whatever I have with you, would be a gift as I don't need anything else at the moment. I'm listed in the exchange, send me an e-mail, and if I have it, you are welcome to it. LMK
Bluegrass425
I live approximately 20 miles north of Frankfort. It is a little town known as Defoe, hence the screen name, but my mailing address is Pleasureville, which is about 4 miles from my actual house. We have a small farm, approximately 30 acres, raise a huge vegetable garden, I have annuals, and perennials, trees shrubs and vines. Love digging in that dirt. We raise about an acre of garden and supply all of our families and neighbors, plus I can and freeze alot. So tell me about yourself. Where are you and what do you raise? This is my first year starting all our tomato plants from seed. Boy have I learned a LOT!! Right now I am working out of the garage, but really want my own "little greenhouse". Went to a plant sale today, resisted the urge to buy one of everything, just came home with a "candy corn plant" and GD wanted a Gerbera Daisy for her mother for mother's day. Good to talk with you. Keep in touch.