Nettles should not be eaten once they have flowered but can be cut back to produce young flowerless nettles in no time.
When should you not pick nettles?
1. Don’t pick Stinging Nettles when in Flower. The flowers on Stinging Nettles are like catkins; little tendrils of flowers dropping down from the stems, they tend to be green or yellowy-green in colour, so not always obvious to spot.
When can you pick nettles?
Nettles are best when very tender, so pick them in the spring when the nettles are just coming up or later in the season when they’re growing well, but before they are flowering. Use rubber gloves or pinch the leaves hard, so you don’t get stung. Pick the young leaves from the tips.
Do nettles sting when they are flowering?
The lip of the flower provides a landing stage for bees and other insects that pollinate the flowers. The leaves are heart shaped, pointed and have toothed edges, and as the name suggests, this nettle doesn’t sting.
White dead-nettle Lamium album.
| Status | Green – Least concern |
|---|---|
| Colour | |
| Habitat | Woodland, Arable, Farmland |
Do nettles sting if you grab them?
Nettles are plants with sharp hairs on their leaves. If you touch them, these hairs inject irritants into the skin, making it itchy, red and swollen.
Can you harvest nettles in summer?
When to Harvest Stinging Nettle? The optimum time to pick stinging nettle is just before blossoms develop in spring and early summer.
How do I harvest nettles?
Harvest the nettles by cutting off only the upper leaves (no larger than about 3” wide). Check the undersides of the leaves to make sure there is no white spittle present. Since you want only the leaves, you’ll save yourself a lot of effort later by cutting the leaves from the stems as you go.
How do you harvest and dry nettles?
Gather 5-6 stems and tie together with kitchen string. To allow for good air circulation, do not tie too many stems together. Label your bundles and hang in a clean, dry and dark place – or on your dining room light fixture! Let them dry for 1-3 weeks, depending on size of bundles, humidity and maturity of the nettles.
Are nettles safe to eat?
Stinging nettle can be eaten on its own or as an ingredient in foods. Nettle leaves must first be cooked or steamed to destroy the hairs on them, which contain a number of irritating chemicals. Most medicinal uses of stinging nettle use more of the plant than you would typically eat.
What is the difference between nettles and stinging nettles?
Stinging nettle is the name given to common nettle, garden nettle, and hybrids of these plants. Originally from the colder regions of northern Europe and Asia, this herbaceous shrub grows all over the world today.
What animals eat nettles?
Stinging nettles are great wildlife attractors: caterpillars of the small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies use them as foodplants; ladybirds feast on the aphids that shelter among them; and seed-eating birds enjoy their autumn spoils.
Is nettle the same as dead nettle?
Unfortunately, deadnettles and stinging nettles often grow together. Deadnettles have smoother leaves and a green stem (white arrow). Stinging nettles leaves (red arrow) have a slightly furry appearance due to the stings.
Can you dry nettles for tea?
You can also dry stinging nettles to use as tea. The drying process will also cause the sting to disappear. You can either tie them in a bunch and hang upside down like you would with a bunch of herbs, or lay them out to dry, turning them regularly to ensure that no leaves mold if there is still moisture in them.
Do bees like stinging nettles?
This weed is particularly useful to them as that pollen may be in short supply if there are few flowering trees in your area. It’s certainly one of the few herbaceaous plants flowering vigorously and attracting bees at this time.
Why do nettle stings last so long?
Their swollen bases are filled with formic acid, the same stuff that causes the pain of ant and bee stings. Even accidentally brushing against the plant is enough to inflict stings, and the pain could last a whole day.
Can you pick nettles in August?
Leaf harvest
Yummy nettle leaves are best gathered for eating or for making tea at two times in the year, when they are still fresh, green and tasty looking and BEFORE they have flowered: in spring. in late summer/early autumn (IF they have been cut back, there will be a ‘second flush’ of fresh leaves).
Can you eat stinging nettle raw?
Because the stings have to remain firm to cause the irritation, cooking the leaf instantly makes them safe – don’t try to eat the leaf raw in a salad or anything. There are plenty of recipes online for a variety of hot dishes, so see what you fancy. Think of the nettle leaf like spinach and use it in a similar way.
Are nettles poisonous?
Stinging nettle
If touched, these needle-like hairs inject the stinging acid into the skin, triggering a burning, tingling sensation and an itchy rash. Thankfully the symptoms usually do not persist longer than 24 hours. Interestingly, the cooked plant is safe to eat and is popular is some places as a vegetable.
Does nettle increase testosterone?
Stinging Nettle is quite a nasty plant to touch, but oral ingestion of pills without spikes results in a moderately potent anti-inflammatory that can reduce the sniffles. Does not boost testosterone despite being claims to, although it can help Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and urine abnormalities.
Can I drink nettle tea everyday?
It is a powerful blood purifier that drives out toxins from the body, making it the perfect addition to your daily routine to stay healthy. The herb has antibacterial, antifungal, astringent, and anti-inflammation properties. What’s more, it is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and K, along with containing carotene and iron.
Who should not drink nettle tea?
Pregnant people
Interactions. Pregnant people should not take nettle or drink nettle tea. Due to a lack of research, children under the age of 12 years should also avoid nettle. It is important that people with existing conditions and those who take certain medications speak with a healthcare professional before trying nettle.