Four Star Culture Guide - 2019 - 74

NEPETA

'Cat's Meow,' 'Cat's Pajamas'
ZONE HARDINESS 4 - 9
NUTRITION
pH: 5.8 - 6.2
EC: (2:1 extraction method) 0.6 - 0.9
Moderate fertilization is recommended. 100ppm - 200ppm N
TEMPERATURE for forcing from liners
Forcing: 65 F - 72 F
Growing on: 55 F - 65 F
Holding: 40 F - 50 F
Once plants reach a saleable size, they can be moved to a frost
protected open environment with good air movement.
WATERING
Keep the soil evenly moist during all stages of growing.
Nepeta requires average to slightly below average amounts
of irrigation. Too much water and fertilizer will promote lush
uncontrollable growth.
TIMING
Supernova® 28 Liner to Trade Gallon/True Gallon: 6 - 8
weeks with one plug per container. A typical planting date for
spring forcing would be Week 10 for finishing in Week 18.
104 Liner to Quart: 5 - 6 weeks with one plug per container.
A typical planting date for spring forcing would be Week 12 for
finishing in Week 18. Planting a 104 count liner into a Gallon
container and bulking in the summer/fall is also a great way to
finish a larger high-quality spring crop with excellent flowering.
VERNALIZATION
While a cold treatment on Nepeta is not required, vernalized
plants grow more vigorously and tend to flower more rapidly
and uniformly than plants with no exposure to cold.
If purchased in the spring, our Supernova 28 and 104 count
liners have been vernalized for proper flowering.

PLANTING
Nepeta perform best when planted in a well-drained, porous
growing medium. When your plants arrive, they may appear
dormant, but it will only take 4 - 7 days for new growth to
appear once they are planted. Plant the dormant plug so that
the soil line of the plug is even to or just slightly below the soil
line of the fresh planting media.
When growing perennials, we recommend using an aged or
composted pine bark-based media, as opposed to an annual
growing mix that traditionally tend to be heavier in peat. Bark
adds weight and stability to the growing mix and tends not to
compress and shrink over time, thus adding the longevity that
can be needed on long-term crops such as perennials.
LIGHT/LIGHTING
Nepeta enjoy full sun and high light conditions. No
photoperiodic lighting should be needed.
TRIMMING/PINCHING
Plants respond well to shearing and this will promote
reblooming in the summer after the first flush of color has
faded.
GROWTH REGULATORS
Nepeta is best controlled with cooler production temperatures,
proper spacing and early trimming.
PEST and DISEASE MANAGEMENT
A good routine scouting program is recommended to ensure
that insects don't cause damage, but damage and crop loss due
to insect problems seem to be rare on Nepeta. Scout and spray
preventively for foliar diseases as well.
SPECIAL NOTES
When growing larger containers, it is best to bulk them in the
summer/fall the year before they are to be sold.

Four Star Greenhouse I www.pwfourstar.com I 734-654-6420
74

The rates and chemicals listed are based on our southeast Michigan growing conditions, and are not recommended for nationwide application.
Please adjust the rates and spray applications to your location and facility.

http://www.pwfourstar.com

Four Star Culture Guide - 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Four Star Culture Guide - 2019