Stinging nettle is a common plant that grows in damp and fertile soil.
The nettle (Urtica Dioica) belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is a native to Europe, Asia western North Africa among many others.
The stinging nettles leaves have sharp hairs that contain chemicals such as formic acid and histamine, which irritate the skin, causing itching and redness.
It has got other chemicals such as acetylcholine and serotonin that can affect humans.
In ancient times, the Egyptians used the stinging nettle to treat arthritis and lower back pain among other health benefits of Stinging Nettle.
The Roman troops rubbed it on themselves to maintain warmth.
What You Will Learn In This Post:
How is Stinging Nettle Grown and Produced
Stinging nettle can grow from two to four feet length at the maturity level.
The nettle plant produces either male and female flowers but not both. The leaves grow adjacent to each other and the flowers are mainly wind polluted.
The seeds are very tiny and require light for germination.
In the spring season, broadcast the seeds and press them lightly into the soil or cover with a very thin layer of soil only about ¼ inch.
The seeds should germinate after approximately 14 days. Transplant the grown seedlings while spacing about 8 inches apart.
The plants can later be spaced into an inch apart to enhance well spacing.
The nettle will do well in a variety of climates and conditions.
Stinging nettle can grow during summer as well as during winter. The germinating seeds and roots tolerate soil with a wide pH range of anywhere from 5.0 to 8.
Always remember to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged throughout the spring season.
In addition to that, you can add some leaf mulch around the plants to help retain the moisture during the dry periods.
These plants also thrive better in nitrogen soil so spreading some composted manure into the soil you are planting on would be a great idea.
Harvest regularly to encourage new growth as you keep an eye on them to avoid spreading to places where you don’t want them to grow.
Additionally, wear gloves, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes while harvesting. Use sharp pair of scissors to cut the leaves and put them in a clean paper bag, bucket or basket.
One of the main benefits is that it can reduce the risk of pest infestation for surrounding crops. It attracts beneficial insects and several butterfly species.
How to Consume the Nettle?
The nettle can be consumed as herbal remedies.
Cooking, drying, crushing, and blending them make the leaves safe to handle and eat. Once you use any of these methods the leaves can be part of any dish similar to other leafy greens.
Due to their irrefutable taste, they can be used to make fresh nettle soup which can be used as an ingredient in baking, or simply sautéed in a little butter and garlic as a side dish.
The fresh leaves can also be used in cheese making as a vegetarian substitute for rennet.