Well that was a whole waste! Thanks if you have time to reply. sometimes plant seeds are saved for eating and sometimes they are saved for planting; and sometimes the method for each is different). After it flowers and seeds form, stinging nettle gets more gritty which may lead to urinary concerns in some people. With just a couple of easy tips, harvesting and using stinging nettle is absolutely safe. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Great to hear from you. I believe the restaurant used blanched or dried. Enjoy x. I have my harvested seeds and have sieved them. Hi Lee Have you tried these chocolate banana oat cookies? All content copyright © 2019 Getty Stewart | Website & logo design by, How to Saute Red Cabbage – A Classic German Recipe », For your Valentine’s breakfast try this strawber, It's always good to have a hearty pot of soup on t, You've got to try this blueberry lime labneh chees, I love a good salad and firmly believe that a grea, Not going to lie - roasting chickpeas can be trick, Are you a soup lover? Hi Glad I found you. The long stems make nettle perfect for hang drying. Drying is done as quickly as possible in the sun. of soil. You’ll find patches in disturbed soils, along streams or river banks, on old homesteads and along the edge of clearings, fence lines or forest pathways where the sunlight comes through. Find a place where there used to be an old barn or compost pile and you’re bound to find a patch of stinging nettle. https://www.gettystewart.com/how-to-harvest-dry-freeze-use-stinging-nettle Size – I don’t pick according to size; any size leaf will do. Getty. It forms great intruder deterrent and now provides food. Most of us are familiar with the properties and benefits of the leaves but the seeds are actually more potent again. Change ). By mid summer, there is new growth that can be harvested again. I found it growing along the edge of the property and left it to grow to over 6 feet. Gathering & Drying Nettle Seeds. Germination should occur by about 14 days. How Much – It all depends on what you want to make. I’m glad that I have more nettle. I make home cooking easy, enjoyable and deliciously fun! The seeds are cleaned of above-ground parts, washed and left to drain. Maturity – More important than size is the maturity of the plant. If a leaf or plant has torn, brown, shriveled or even bug eaten leaves, assume that the essential oils and nutrients are not in top condition. Nettle seeds. Hi Leandra, Nettle makes a nice hair rinse. Glad you found relief. Cheaper and even more nutrient rich than spinach. i have hay fever and suffer when any pollen is high. I found only a Swiss recipy that show how touse them cooked a little bit to add to salads. The usual advice is not to use the leaf after flowering but you can normally find some fresh green growth from nettles that have been cut down which is fine to use. can you help me? For some of the more unfortunate who have gout. I take them down before they are completely dry and finish them in the dehydrator but that’s just because years of living in damp houses have made me cautious of air drying anything. Reading all comments trying to get motivated for my first harvest in the morning. In early spring, I cut the top third to half of the plant where the most tender leaves are. Fabulous article. Can I still use them? In your option is it o.k. Peace Rene’. Nettle fabric was used by Europeans and Native Americans for linens and sailcloth as early as the 16th and 17th century. Hope this helps. But if that were the only defense the plant had, it would be nothing more than a very brief, minor pin prick. You may use it in place of spinach in recipes, freeze or dehydrate for later, or make an herbal tea with the leaves. You could try to plant them and see what happens next year. I am interested in the storage of nettles in my freezer. She is the author of several recipe books on enjoying and preserving fruit, Founder of Fruit Share, a mom and veggie gardener. I’v loved using them though only this year am I progressing to drying seeds. One site recommended I check the underside of the leaves for “white spittles” when I harvest do you know what the heck it was talking about? I help put healthy, seasonal food on tables and agendas. Leaves dried or fresh about 2 hands full just enough boiling water on them, leave solution till cool enough for foot and then soak for about 20 mins helps relieve pain and swelling. Sign up to get articles by Getty delivered to your inbox. Try using dried nettles mixed into herbal teas or grind them into a powder and add a tablespoon in soups or smoothies. I hope that clears up any confusion and makes it easier to get out and enjoy your harvest. Thanks so much for the fabulous lesson on nettle seed gathering, the lovely pics of fellow tree huggers and fellow trees, and beautiful Dr Bach quote. Despite what others may say, you’re not crazy! Anytime from the end of July to around now depending on the site and where you live. :0)))) i feel the world is a better place for your having created this site, or rather the realities of this being available for me to know froma site although so far away now in miles. Armed with a basket or paper bag, scissors, gloves, long pants, long sleeves and closed-toe shoes, you’re ready to head into the nettle patch. Pic: Nettle seed climbing up the sides of a glass of water. How interesting, yes nettles are something of a pregnancy super food! I don’t want to have to throw it out. To boost the nutrition even more, consider grinding and adding seeds such as flax or sesame. ( Log Out /  Your site is lovely. Ciao Lucinda. Thanks for the tasty tip, Marj! Are the year old nettles still good? Fibers can be dried, pounded, and twisted into rope or cloth. Being near the Equator there are always new leaves on it though early in the year it is a little yellow and more fibrous. If they bother you you could try a finer mesh sieve which should do the trick.

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