Both are common, especially in disturbed areas. However, you must be careful when working with stinging nettle because it has a toxic component. If you want to grow some, these seed heads will provide hundreds of seeds. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) range. By the way, each stinger is actually a natural hypodermic needle, and what it injects is anti-inflammatory (unless you are allergic to bee stings). There are a variety of symptoms of stinging nettle toxicity, including: The symptoms generally arise within 12 to 24 hours. However, some people and animals can have more serious allergic reactions, such as tightness in their chest or throat, that require prompt medical treatment. And, of course, the leaves and stems are covered in those pesky stinging barbs, which look like fine hairs. Nettle is an herbaceous, quick-growing plant whose leaves and stems are covered with tiny, hollow, silica-tipped hairs which can cause irritation. Don't over do it, but they can handle more alkaline (opposite of acidic) conditions than most plants and there is little that is more alkaline than wood ash. Stinging nettle thrives in damp, nutrient rich soils and can be found anywhere from pastures, orchards, overgrown yards, roadsides, stream banks, ditches and even at the edges of fields or wooded lots in partial shade. I did that, and do they ever like it. Description. Don't worry about the stings unless you are one of the people allergic to bee stings. Avoid touching your face as you work. What look like short hairs on stinging nettle’s leaves and stems are actually needle-like barbs that can inject you with a mix of chemicals, even if you simply brush up against them. are herbaceous, fast-growing plants native to the U.S. and Europe. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) illustration. If planted in a spot it likes, each clump of it will grow more stems each year. After the stinging nettle enters its flowering and seed-setting stages, the leaves develop gritty particles … The stingers that defend the plant. Stinging Nettles are full of nutrients. Stinging nettles are plants that are commonly found in many areas of the world. U. dioica has a flavour similar to spinach mixed with cucumber when cooked, and is rich in vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium. These chemicals include acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin, leukotrienes, and moroidin. This will smother any new plants that try to grow. Nice looking plant as well - but stingy. Stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, has leaves and stems with tiny, hollow, tipped hairs. They include: David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. This is best done in late fall - mid October to mid November. Stinging nettle sends up its tall, erect stems each spring, which reach their full height by summer. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. It usually reaches a height of seven feet if one places it in damp and sunny soil. And that's why you often see nettles amongst the cow pats in your paddocks. Stinging nettle (Urtica genus) is a European native plant that has become naturalized throughout the United States. They just snap off. You should get a lot of seeds quickly. You can also sow stinging nettle seed directly into the prepared garden space. There are six common subspecies of stinging nettle, but only five have the stinging barbs. Anti-microbial. There is variation in taste from different plants, so the first time you find one, take home some of the upper leaves, cook and see if they taste good. (By: kallerna GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2), (NOTE: If you are not interested in growing Stinging Nettles, but just finding the plant and using it, try going to the Nature's Restaurant Online site Stinging Nettle page.). If you have a plant you need to get rid of, first moisten the soil around it to make it easier to slide out the roots. You also can use anti-itch creams as well as antihistamines and anti-inflammatories, as directed by your doctor. Pick an adequate grow space with proper sunlight, soil, drainage, and moisture. I was surprised at the size of roots and trunks, big compared to leaf size. Stinging hairs of nettles are hollow, pointed cells with a tip made of pure silica, which breaks leaving a jagged point when you brush against it. Impatiens flowers behind. Is the growing of this plant compatible with Natural farming, Ecoagriculture or Eco friendly agriculture, Ecological farming, Sustainable agriculture, Agroforestry or Agro-sylviculture and Permaculture: This long lived perenial root system is ideal for Natural farming or no-till garden methods. Nettles, Urtica spp. Choose a sunny, warm location that is well drained and fertile. Once you get these plants established, there is no need to ever till the soil around them. Because of this, whenever I have moved, I always hunt around for mature specimens to take home and plant. The soil should open, organically rich and loamy. If you have experienced the pain of a Stinging Nettle plant, wisdom would tell you to avoid it. It grows best in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 10. If you are, don't grow these plants. Furthermore, to make sure new shoots don’t spring up, you can cover the site with a tarp or piece of cardboard for at least one full growing season. The medicinal properties of nettles were first harnessed in medieval Europe. The plant has been shown to cleanse the body of metabolic waste and increase production of red blood cells. The leaves and tops from the first year plants are not as good as from mature rootstock, so I'd pass on eating the leaves until the second year, and even those are not as good as from a plant that is many years old. Using: The leaves must be cooked to destroy the stingers, but after that it is up to you. Its preference for damp, fertile and disturbed ground makes it a good coloniser of places enriched by human activities, such as agriculture and development. Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) are able to survive in a wide range of conditions but are most common on ground that’s been left uncultivated for a long period.Plants can spread to form clumps, and seed is also distributed to infest new areas. Once you have the seeds, just spread them in the area you want the nettles right after getting home with them, and lightly rake into the soil and tamp down gently, and put on a thin leaf mulch. In the fall, cut back all but the top 6 to 10 inches of growth, dig it up with plenty of soil, put in a plastic bag or bucket, and transplant to where you want it. Top leaves picked from the Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) early in the season are my absolute favorite cooked green. Dig around the plant’s base to loosen the roots, and then grasp the plant at its base to slide it out of the ground with the roots as intact as possible. But it's tolerant of many soil types and pH levels. They can be used in soups, baked dishes, anything. After the seedlings are up a little or after you transplant, mulch around the area well. They can grow to 4 feet high in rich soil. (7) Stinging nettle produces abundant seed. Credit: dadalia / iStock.com. How to pick them: One way is to use gloves and a bag. There was immediate pain and stinging, followed by swelling and turning red. Young Stinging Nettle growing in with pink Impatiens in flower. If you don't have children or pets in the yard, this is a great plant to have for greens in the spring. Mowing or weed-whacking won’t do the trick — in fact, these methods will likely make the stinging nettle grow back more densely. The other, U. dioi… This plant will reward your love with more and better tasting greens. This includes thick gardening gloves, such as those made out of rubber, as well as long sleeves and pants. In this way, the presence of large collections of nettles in the wild can sometimes indicate where settlements once existed. If you want to be able to eat the greens from these in your garden the first year after you start growing them, you really do need to transplant a well established plant. Harvesting: As soon as they are about 30 cm (1 foot) tall, begin harvesting the top 7.5 cm (3 inches) of greens. You can either add some lime to the top of the soil each year before adding the mulch and manure/compost, or if you heat with wood, spread the wood ash around on the ground in the area where they grow in the winter when you empty your stove. The … I wish I could remember where I read this, but one writer said that if they did not sting they would have gone extinct long ago, as they are so good tasting, and so rich in nutrients, that animals would have grazed them to oblivion. But seriously, be prepared to get stung unless you have the skill of a surgeon no matter how you do it. The leaves narrow at the tip and have serrated edges. First year ones like this are not as good as the tops from mature rootstock. Severe cases can be life-threatening. Once the leaves start to yellow in the fall, you can use the pair of hedge clippers to cut them back to about 10 cm (4 inches) high, leaving the stalks on the ground and cover with a layer of composted manure, compost and/or mulch. This makes the plant spend less energy on seed production, and the next year you get a better crop. Makes a big difference for days. Since nettles can grow up to 8 feet tall, going through a large patch of nettle can be a daunting prospect. A very common plant, the stinging nettle can be found growing in gardens, hedgerows, fields, woodlands and many other habitats. It’s commonly seen in North America, especially the Pacific Northwest due to its love of moisture in the soil. Both people and animals typically feel a stinging sensation—hence the plant’s common name—followed by local inflammation, a rash, and other various symptoms. It is perhaps most troublesome in loose, newly cultivated soil, especially where phosphate levels are high. This may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, These pollinators ultimately can benefit your entire garden. In the wild, you'll often see it in the damp soil along stream beds, as well as in the nutrient-rich soil of pastureland. For myself, I find I need at least six perennial clumps (individual plants) per person. Nettles are tough, tenacious colonisers. Soaking stinging nettles in water or cooking removes the stinging chemicals from the plant, which allows them to be handled and eaten without injury. It does well in low areas. How to Grow Stinging Nettle Greens. Fibrous stems of mature plants can be used to make twine, fishing nets, snares and … Dock leaves and stinging nettles grow in similar habitats. Stinging nettle is less likely to be found in the desert, elevations over 9,800 feet and in areas of salinity. Even the new growth later in June just does not taste right, and can be stringy. Either compost them or seal them in a yard waste bag. Originally the content in this site was a book that was sold through Amazon worldwide. Stinging nettle is native to temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and western North Africa. The plant prefers evenly moist, loamy soil with good drainage and a neutral soil pH. The plant is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but now it can be found worldwide. The other thing you can do, is cut off the flower/seed heads as they form. Maintenance: Make sure the soil stays damp in the spring, up to when you are finished harvesting. Moreover, while all parts of the nettle plant are edible, the leaves and stems can’t be eaten straight from the plant due to the barbs. I have never tasted a cooked green – either wild or domestic – that I like better. In some parts of the US, stinging nettle is considered an invasive weed due to its ability to self-seed and spread through its root mass. Once the spot has been determined, till the ground to where it’s ready to receive the seeds. If you are older and have arthritis, the stings are good for you, and you will notice you feel better for a couple of days after getting a few stings. Where Nettles Grow: The plants take advantage of disturbed soils, including areas along roadsides. If so, wait until that fall to adopt it and make it part of your home garden family. If you do have children and/or pets and you still want to grow it, I strongly suggest growing it in a fenced in area. Stinging nettle is considered a weed by many gardeners because of its ability to spread. The stingers face slightly upwards, so move upwards with your thumb and forefinger as you are about to grab the stem. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial that gets tall in the summer and dies back down to the ground in the winter. Soil & Site: From my experience, the taste varies with location and time of year. Top leaves picked from the Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) early in the season are my absolute favorite cooked green. They really show their appreciation for good treatment. There is one odd, counter intuitive aspect to these greens: the greens from new, or first year plants don't taste very good. Once you get it established in a spot, it just produces year after year. The California Nettle or Stinging Nettle is a perennial plant that can grow anywhere from three to nine feet high, growing in stands connected by underground roots. There are many other varieties of nettle that you can grow, but stinging nettle is the most common. You’ll find them growing along rivers, streams, lakes, ditches, fencerows, and on the edges of cultivated farm fields. The combination of wood ash and manure where they grow will make them grow so thick and tall you won't beleive it! It spreads from rhizomes, and it can be either erect or sprawling. The pain lasted for 2 days. Its leaves and stems have tiny stinging barbs, which contain chemicals that can cause pain and inflammation in people and animals when they come in contact with the skin. If you do it right, you will bend off the stinging hairs as you are grabbing without getting stung – in theory (laughing). Finally, dig into the soil to remove any remaining roots you see, as these have the potential to sprout new plants. Stinging nettle is a large, rhizomatous perennial wild edible plant that can grow quite tall. Stinging Nettle in seed in my garden. The plant’s name is Latin in origin, with Uro meaning “I burn”. All Drawings Copyright © 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 David G. Mills except where noted. Text Copyright © 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 David G. Mills. Stinging Nettles Three species of stinging nettles grow in the American southwest. U. d. gracilis is the only perennial of the three. Distribution map courtesy of U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Natural Resources Service) and used in accordance with their policies. Formerly all stinging nettles were thought to be introduced European nettles. This plant will grow in full sun and partial shade. gracilis, is a North American native. Even if you transplant just one, you can get seeds from it next season and start many more. They have herbal properties and grow in the same places every year… It’s a very hardy plant and can easily creep around your garden via self-seeding and underground stems that send up new shoots.
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