Catnip (Nepeta cataria)?

Hey, i have just put some catnip seeds in my propagator. I know how to plant it as I have the instructions.

Alls well and good but I was wondering what I have to do to get the actual catnip (like you would buy in the shops). Is it the actual flowers that are dried out, or do the flowers produce the seeds that my cats would love to play with? Any help would be great thanks

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)?
hehe, growing catnip, I did that once, the cats loved it to death, literally, as soon as the sprouts had two leaves on them. Ok, really, protect the plants from the cats while they are getting established, or the cat will literally love them to death. Once the plant is established in a pot or in the ground, just clip stems off the plant and either give them to the cat directly or you can dry them. Clip the stems and tie several together with kitchen string and hang in a dry, warm place for several days until they dry out, when they are dry, crumble the catnip (food processor or blender works well, but so do hands) and place in an airtight bag, or jar (it's an herb so treat it as you would other herbs) and use the dried catnip to stuff toys. Protect the drying and dried catnip from the cats or it will be all over the place. Trust me I know. If you live somewhere humid use a box fan and some air conditioning filters (two or more) and lay the herb/catnip on the filters (see Alton Brown's Good Eats TV show) and bungee cord them to the box fan, turn the fan on and you will have dry catnip in less than a day.
Reply:The plant itself will be the hit of the kitty neighborhood while it is still growing, even before you dry it.
Reply:Cut the catnip BEFORE the flower opens o/w it loses it scent/oil
Reply:The leaves, fresh or dried, have the essential oil that makes them crazy.
Reply:hi, dry out the buds and the leaves, the cats will also like the plant fresh, if it is in the garden! :) They will roll in it! =^..^=

Teeth Whitening