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Establishing a Stinging Nettle Patch  RSS feed

 
Isaac Hill
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Posts: 357
Location: Beaver County, Pennsylvania (~ zone 6)
9
posted 6 years ago
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Hello folks, so I just harvested some nettles from the wild with a whole lotta seeds on them. I really want to establish a patch, but am unsure which direction to take: should I sow in the fall or should I sow in the spring? Or should I get nettle roots like that guy in this video?





Best,

Salamander

"To oppose something is to maintain it" -- Ursula LeGuin

 
christine lawson
Posts: 34
Location: West Quebec
posted 6 years ago
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I've had great success with roots. (Ever since seeing Skeeter's videos I now say "ruts"!)

Put them in a couple different locations to let them decide where they like best. Be aware they may move themselves around. And boy, can those roots ever sting. When they come up, nip 'em back once in the first year, too much will discourage them, just enough will help them get established.

It's so heartening to hear they are appreciated. I peaked into an organic gardening forum once and saw a thread AGAINST them. tsk.

  Christine
 
Jordan Lowery
pollinator
Posts: 1528
Location: zone 7
12
posted 6 years ago
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toss the seed out in the fall, nettle will pop up when its best for nettle.

The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. - Masanobu Fukuoka

 
Isaac Hill
gardener
Posts: 357
Location: Beaver County, Pennsylvania (~ zone 6)
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posted 6 years ago
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sounds like a haiku hubert!

sow seeds in the fall
nettle will pop up when it
is best for nettle

and maybe I'll try a one two punch, bury some rut and throw some seed!

"To oppose something is to maintain it" -- Ursula LeGuin

 
Jordan Lowery
pollinator
Posts: 1528
Location: zone 7
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posted 6 years ago
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don't bury the seed, they just need topsoil contact.

The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. - Masanobu Fukuoka

 
Haru Yasumi
Posts: 102
posted 6 years ago
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Depending where you live I wouldn't worry too much about getting nettles started.  Whether transplanting roots, direct sowing, or starting in pots they seem to grow easily around here.  I planted out a couple so-so looking plants I started in pots into the garden and they've spread readily.

This picture is of a nettle patch I started from 1 flimsy looking seed-grown plant last summer.  Over winter the roots bulged viciously and turned into a multi-stemmed colony.
IMG_4412-(Large).jpg
[Thumbnail for IMG_4412-(Large).jpg]

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Posts: 4
posted 6 years ago
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I would like to grow a stinging nettle patch as well!  I didn't plant any this spring, because my dad swore he had tons of them grown in the back field, however I think what he has is thistle...=S
I do have a packet of nettle seeds...should I plant them now, in the fall, or next spring?  I live in about the middle/east part of Wisconsin. 
Thanks!!
I totally appreciate nettles...they make a great infusion and I can't wait to try them cooked and with butter! =P
 
Brenda Groth
pollinator
Posts: 4437
Location: North Central Michigan
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posted 6 years ago
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i would like to establish a nettle patch but don't have the seed..i have read that they do best where there is a lot of bird doo..which I have a lot of here !!

Brenda

Bloom where you are planted.
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/

 
Jordan Lowery
pollinator
Posts: 1528
Location: zone 7
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posted 6 years ago
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brenda do you know of any local nettle patches?

The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. - Masanobu Fukuoka

 
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