Expert: nick mccann - 5/20/2009

Question
Hi there, Nick!

I'm living in an apartment with no balcony right now. I would like to grow a couple catnip plants for my kitties and myself, but am not sure as to whether this would be possible without being able to give them access to the outdoors. Putting them on a windowsill would be hazardous due to the cats, though I have a nice high shelf right beside the window I could place it on where the cats can't reach.

I'm wondering if you can give me an idea of the best way to go about starting them, and the basics of what I'd need to know about growing them nice and healthy for human consumption as well.

Answer
Hi Trey, I grow it for my cats all the time (and even put some out for a couple of feral cats I sort of adopted..), I never started them from seed, but if that is what you are alluding to, it would be the same as any herb, sprinkle the seeds on top of a container with soil and barely cover them with soil; then its just a case of keeping the soil barely moist and covered with a baggy in a darker area until they sprout, then move them into the sunny area. If you are just referring to caring for an established, store bought plant, then the care is pretty basic, the sunny shelf and adequate water, with a weekly administering of a soluble like Miracle-Grow. Nick