How to Grow Nettle
"Ouch, something just stung me," might be something you would say while strolling along a creek bank. If so, nettles are the likely culprit. But nettles don't just sting, they are used as a vegetable and for healing. Although they grow wild in abundance, nettles can be hard to cultivate; so follow the directions below to get your patch growing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Nettle seeds or plants
- Potting soil and containers
- Plastic wrap
- Shovel
- Bagged cow manure fertilizer
- Heavy garden gloves
Instructions
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1
Order seeds or plant starts from a nursery; or, go dig your own if you know of a place where they grow wild. Do this in early Spring.
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Start seeds indoors at room temperature. Use rich potting soil and barely cover the seeds. Cover the container with plastic and put it in a warm, dark place. The seeds sprout in 7 to 10 days and can be transplanted outside about a week after germination.
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Dig a trench or set up containers outside in partial shade. Line with cow manure or other rich organic fertilizer.
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Transplant your started seedlings or plants outside after all frost danger has passed. Space them roughly one foot apart.
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Water abundantly and side dress with fertilizer frequently. Nettles love cow manure as a fertilizer.
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Tips & Warnings
Nettles spread from the root and by seed, so unless you want them growing all over your property, it is best to plant them in containers.
Harvest nettles right after the blooms form. Wash the nettles and then steam, eat or dry and make into tea. Nettles lose their sting when steamed or dried.
Ensure you have permission to dig plants on someone else's property. There are also laws against harvesting plants in some public lands.
Always wear heavy leather gloves when working with nettle plants. They contain a toxin that will sting and cause a rash on the skin. If you get a sting, neutralize it with a paste of baking soda and water.
