The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: oink on May 18, 2011, 12:16:21 pm

Title: too late for stinging nettle tea?
Post by: oink on May 18, 2011, 12:16:21 pm

The stingers in my garden all seem to have some seeds growing on them now.  I'm assuming that it's too late to use them for tea or mulch now but I thought I'd ask.  Maybe the water will kill the seeds or maybe the seeds aren't mature yet?

I know, I know, complete wishful thinking... ::) ::)

Title: Re: too late for stinging nettle tea?
Post by: ellisr on May 18, 2011, 12:58:20 pm

cut them down and stick them in a bucket with water to make compost tea and the new the new shoots that come through you can use for other things.

Title: Re: too late for stinging nettle tea?
Post by: Hopewell on May 18, 2011, 02:33:20 pm

You could always cut them for nettle hay. My rabbits and goats love it.
For nettle tea or even nettle soup (better than it sounds!) you really are best with the fresh growth that will then appear.

Title: Re: too late for stinging nettle tea?
Post by: Cinderhills on May 18, 2011, 09:28:34 pm

Nettle hay - I assume you just cut and leave to dry flat, or is there anything else that needs to be done?  We have so many it sounds like a great plan.

Title: Re: too late for stinging nettle tea?
Post by: Hopewell on May 18, 2011, 09:44:19 pm

Nettle hay - just cut it and let it dry flat. It will need turning otherwise the nettles underneath go a bit yuk. It also takes more time than grass hay to dry out, so best with a good dry spell, or be prepared to finish drying under cover.

Title: Re: too late for stinging nettle tea?
Post by: Cinderhills on May 19, 2011, 07:11:36 am

Thanks Hopewell, I'll try that.

Title: Re: too late for stinging nettle tea?
Post by: oink on May 19, 2011, 08:53:11 am

Thanks guys, I'll cut this lot for hay and then cut the new growth for mulch and tea.