Pruning Is Harvesting

Pruning or cutting back is essential when it comes to growing herbs such as catnip. Pruning a tree involves cutting off branches and tossing them. Pruning a catnip plant means cutting back the stems with leaves and keeping them. Pruning a herb plant is actually harvesting it.

Pruning makes all plants grow better and herbs such as catnip are no exception. If you want your catnip to grow fast, full and bush-like then you need to prune (harvest) regularly. If you do not make every attempt possible to harvest your catnip you will wind up with a tall herb with very few leaves. The taller the catnip gets the sooner it will enter the flowering stage and then the conclusion of its life cycle. You want to harvest as much catnip as you can from each of your plants to stretch out the plants growth stage. Each harvest will promote more growth and keep the plant producing tasty catnip for your kitty. Regular harvesting (pruning) will also make your catnip plant look good and full.

Keep a schedule of when you harvest your catnip. Right now (mid July) my catnip plants are in full growth. However, I’m battling the ‘war of the flowers’ almost everyday. The more flowers I pinch off the more that come back the next day. You might want to do more then pinch the ends of the plant. Consider (if your plant is big enough) clipping off around six to twelve inches from the top. If your plant is on the smaller side then measure from the bottom and clip above the six inch mark. Don’t worry about killing your plant. Pruning your catnip plant will not kill it. Instead, it will actually make it come back thicker and stronger producing even more harvestable catnip. Unless you have an indoor plant or live in a area with access to year round harvesting you better think about drying out as much as you can for winter.