Edge your bets

At this time of year, before the mad rush of veg sowing and planting in spring, there is a lot of maintenance work to be done in the kitchen garden, including lifting and dividing perennial cut flowers, herbs and vegetables. Taking advantage of the unseasonably warm and dry weather, we have been spending time this week rejuvenating the Nepeta edging along the main curved path of the kitchen garden at Harlow Carr.

The original border of lavender looked wonderful but sadly only lasted a couple of seasons – usually succumbing to the heavy soil and damp winters. To retain the gorgeous effect of this blue corridor marking the edge of the path, we planted Nepeta instead as it is more tolerant of wet soil. Although it has failed in some places, in others areas, vigorously growing plants are providing plenty of material for division and replanting. To improve its chances of survival, try improving the soil with compost and grit/grit sand.

Nepeta (common name catmint) belongs to the plant family Lamiaceae - the mint family. Characterised by its aromatic foliage, it includes a lot of herbs such as mint, hyssop, salvia, oregano and thyme to name a few. Originally from Europe and Asia, it is at home in dry, rocky places and grows wild on waste ground and roadsides. It is most aromatic when grown on dry, poor, neutral to acid soil in a sunny place. Because it is drought tolerant, it’s a great choice for path sides.

There are many varieties available, and confusingly all are known commonly as catmint! Also confusing are the Latin names: you may find plants listed as mussinii, which can be either racemosa or x faassenii; nepeta cataria is the true catmint, the one you would use for herbal remedies, and has white/pink flowers; just to make things even more confusing, it is also known as dogmint! Nepeta faassenii and racemosa have blue flowers. Nepeta faassenii 'Six Hills Giant' is commonly available, and Nepeta racemosa 'Walkers Low' (AGM) is a good compact variety. ‘Citriodora’ is a lemon-scented type, supposedly less attractive to cats, while Nepeta goviana is a lovely yellow variety but isn’t suitable as an edge. Dwarf varieties grow well in containers.

Catmints are great value as they flower from late spring to late summer. If cut back hard after flowering, a second flush of flowers usually follows. In autumn, cut back plants to maintain shape. Propagation is from seed sown in spring, softwood cuttings from non-flowering stems in late spring, or division of established plants in spring.

Nepeta has been used as a medicinal herb since classical times, appearing in herbals throughout history. It has a cooling, sedative action, soothing to the digestive system, and the dried leaves are mildly hallucinogenic. A poultice for bruises can be made from fresh leaves. The mint-flavoured leaves and young shoot tips can be used in salads, in infusions or for flavouring meat. Dried leaves have a sharp, balsam-like taste and are used in tea and medical infusions.

Nepeta is also a good companion and wildlife plant – a nectar source for bees, and attracts lacewings. Traditionally planted near roses to deter aphids, it also keeps flea beetles away, is a mosquito and fly repellent, and can be used in chicken runs to keep rats away.

It’s a really beautiful plant, but what about the elephant in the room, or more accurately the cat? Cats are very attracted to Nepeta, or more precisely nepetalactone, which acts like a drug for them, although about 30% of cats lack this gene. The key is to grow from seed and take cuttings to plant out, as the roots have the most pungent smell and will attract all the local moggies. As the saying goes: 'If you sow it, cats won't know it. If you set it, cats will get it’.

Jobs for the Week

* Try to get ahead with the clearing, weeding and tidying in the garden – it’s impossible to keep up once everything starts really growing away and planting and sowing in the veg garden gets going.

* Plant shallots – an expensive veg to buy, but very easy to grow and worth the space; unlike onions you get several shallots for each one you plant.

* Sometimes you need to replace old propagation materials. I’ve bought new trays with plastic lids this year – the old plastic lids had become semi-opaque, and difficult to clean. They also won't let as much light in for growing plants. Time to get sowing!

With thanks to Ali Mundie, Horticulturist at RHS Garden Harlow Carr

DIARY DATES

8 – 23 April: Easter Holiday Fun & the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt Hop down to the garden and join in the hunt for the Lindt Gold Bunnies, stories with the madcapped garden detectives, Easter crafts and birds-of-prey demonstrations. Over the Easter weekend the Easter Bunny will be hopping by – joined by some real bunnies, lambs and goats. A daily Easter Trail starts on 1 April. Visit rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr/whatson for full details. Normal garden admission applies.

10 - 13 April: National Gardening Week – Helping New Gardeners to Grow Join us as we celebrate National Gardening Week and help new gardeners to grow. 2017 is all about helping those who are new to gardening with tips, activities and advice. On Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 April you can find out about growing, nurturing and caring for sweet peas with experts from the National Sweet Pea Society. Join RHS garden advisor Martin Fish on Wednesday 12 April for top tips on caring for houseplants. Bring your poorly houseplants along to a ‘Houseplant Hospital’ on Thursday 13 April and get advice on how to revive them from our specialist ‘plant doctors’. Normal garden admission applies.