Catnip Garden Expansion

It was about 16 months ago I suppose that I bought a packet of catnip seeds. I got them at a run of the mill place for cheap, tossed some into whatever soil/potting mix I had at the time and hoped for the best.

The best turned out to be a great plant. It appears to be very tall with large leaves...and in the past it has produced viable seed. I think I've covered this before but the news is that I now have 3 established Catnip plants as well as a sprouted seed emerging in another pot. Wow, I'm really liking this :)

I harvested some leaves about 2 or 3 weeks back, froze some and dried some...now it's all combined and the resident feline seems to really enjoy the stuff...although not to the same extent of some videos of cats under the influence (lulz) of catnip.

I decided to share all this because I got a really nice picture of a close up of a catnip 'bud' I suppose it is, which is just starting to flower now :P With a ladybird on it :)

I also have an older picture of the plant itself which can be found at an earlier entry here

The collected seeds with coin for size reference

Some loose leaves being weighed (not very accurately!)

Frozen and crushed Catnip

3 different types of Catnip...Clockwise from top right - Fresh, Dried, Frozen

Close up of a flowering head on a Catnip plant with a Ladybird on it :)

Out in nature

...of sorts

I have a small little garden area, pretty much inappropriate for successfully growing anything too much. Anyhow I've managed to get catnip to grow from seeds. That plant then went on to produce viable seeds so I collected them earlier this year.

I now have 3 catnip plants growing. I plan on harvesting ~50% of the fragrant leaves on the biggest (mother) plant and perhaps trading it as treats for cats that like to tune out :P

Another thing that is curious about my garden is that each year a bunch of small 'cherry'-like tomato plants spring up out of nowhere. I don't really like these particular tomatoes but I figure this year I will harvest them and offer them to my coworkers.

Here is a picture of my mother catnip plant and some closeups of the tomato plants - I might take more pics as things progress.

Oh and I can't resist showing off my 'Pineapple Sage' plant, the leaves smell like sweet pineapple - I love it :D

Thanks for reading - I plan on growing carrots next, but with a twist...in an old fish tank as a grow box.

The 'Sage Pineapple'

'Mother' Catnip

Green Tomatoes

More Tomatoes to come