When to plant Catnip in Temperate Australia
Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.
Raise Catnip seedlings under cover across a long window, sowing from January to April or September to December, then transplanting once they have a few true leaves. Seed germinates in 7–21 days at a shallow 5 mm, and plants reach a usable, leafy size in about 80–100 days. Give each plant generous room at 60 cm apart and 60 cm between rows, as catnip bushes out and self-seeds freely. It is hardy and easy in temperate gardens from Sydney to Adelaide, where it comes back year after year with almost no fuss.
Sowing calendar — temperate zone
Green months are your sowing window: September to April.
Growing notes
Catnip is a hardy perennial mint relative, so once it takes hold in a temperate garden it needs very little from you. It handles frost, drought and poor soil, and does best in full sun to part shade with free-draining ground. In Melbourne, Newcastle or Perth it will die back in winter and reshoot vigorously in spring.
The real failure mode here is not disease but cats. Neighbourhood cats are drawn to the scent and will roll on, chew and flatten young plants, sometimes destroying seedlings before they establish. Protect new transplants with a low wire cloche or a few twiggy sticks until they are big enough to shrug off the attention.
The other thing to watch is spread. Catnip self-seeds enthusiastically and can colonise a bed if you let every flower set seed. Trim plants back after flowering to keep them tidy, encourage fresh leafy growth, and reduce unwanted seedlings. Chelsea-chop the plant by cutting it back by a third in late spring for a bushier habit and a second flush. It rarely needs feeding, and overly rich soil just makes soft growth with weaker aroma. Harvest leaves and stems as flowers open, when the aromatic oils are strongest, and dry them in a shady, airy spot.
Catnip at a glance
| Sowing depth | 5 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 60 cm |
| Row spacing | 60 cm |
| Germination | 7-21 days |
| Days to maturity | 80-100 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Plant Seedlings |
Common questions
- Will catnip come back every year in Melbourne?
- Yes. Catnip is a hardy perennial that dies back over a Melbourne winter and reshoots strongly in spring. Cutting it back after flowering keeps it vigorous and less likely to sprawl.
- How do I stop cats destroying my catnip seedlings?
- Cover new transplants with a wire cloche or ring of twiggy sticks until they are well established. Cats find the scent irresistible and will roll on young plants, but mature clumps recover from the attention.
- Does catnip spread and become a weed?
- It can self-seed freely if you let every flower go to seed. Trimming plants back after flowering keeps them contained and gives you a tidier, leafier clump the following season.
- How far apart should I plant catnip?
- Space plants about 60 cm apart with 60 cm between rows. Catnip bushes out considerably and good spacing keeps air moving through the clump, which reduces any mildew in humid weather.
Track catnip in your garden — sow dates, harvest countdowns, reminders. Free.
Add to my garden