- 1). Place the catnip seeds in the freezer for two weeks. Remove them, allow them to thaw and then freeze again for an additional two weeks.
- 2). Soak the catnip seeds in water for 24 hours.
- 3). Loosen the soil in the catnip bed, to a depth of 10 inches. Pulverize the soil with the shovel until it is powdery. Add a 3-inch layer of sand and mix it into the top 5 inches of soil. Spread 1/4 lbs. of nitrogen per 100 square feet of catnip bed and blend it into the top 12 inches of soil.
- 4). Walk over the bed several times to firm it and then rake it lightly to remove peaks and valleys.
- 5). Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil and cover with a light dusting of sand -- no more than 1/18 inch.
- 6). Water the seeds and keep them moist during germination. Keep the soil moist at all times during the growing season.
- 7). Thin the catnip plants to 12 inches apart when they reach 3 inches in height.
- 8). Harvest the catnip when it is in full bloom. Cut the stems 3 inches above the soil. Lay the catnip in a shady area to dry completely, or bunch the stems together, held in place with a rubber band, and hang from a rafter in a barn or garage until they are completely dry.
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