• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • r ranson
  • Timothy Norton
  • Jay Angler
stewards:
  • Andrés Bernal
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Anne Miller
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • M Ljin
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • thomas rubino

Purple Deadnettle function and use

 
Posts: 69
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
We have tons of those, I thought they were Comfrey so I let them grow tall.
Since they are not, now I wonder what they do to the soil and reading they are edible, wonder how I can use them.
 
pollinator
Posts: 1191
Location: Nevada, Mo 64772
123
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
They are a great winter ground cover. The mature and die in early spring before they compete with most garden plants. They add organic matter.

They are a good source of early nectar for bees.

Chickens like to eat them. I haven't tried them.
 
master pollinator
Posts: 5259
Location: Due to winter mortality, I stubbornly state, zone 7a Tennessee
2226
7
forest garden foraging books food preservation cooking fiber arts bee medical herbs
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Here as an article mentioning deadnettle near the end. http://www.eattheweeds.com/henbit-top-of-the-pecking-order/

We use the top 3 inches of both plants, mixed with other greens. If you are going to use a longer length of deadnettle stems, it begins to taste musty. This can be countered with something spicey... mustard, or peppers, whatever. We use it in soups, salads, or as wilted greens sautéed with onions.
 
Wow! It's so clean! Did you do this tiny ad?
The new gardening playing cards kickstarter is now live!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/garden-cards
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic