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A Spring riddle! What’s green and hairy all over, Grows everywhere in March and April, Can give you muscles like Popeye, Is the perfect des-res for hundreds of residents, But can leave you red and itchy? Yep…you’ve got it…the common stinging nettle!!
developed as a defence against grazing animals. It is so effective that few grazers, apart from goats and very hungry sheep, will touch nettles. When harvesting nettles at this time of year we need to be on the lookout for butterfly larvae nesting. Nettles are home to the Small tortoiseshell, Red Admirals and Peacock butterflies, so if you see curled-up leaves – beware – a hungry caterpillar may be munching away inside, so don’t pick these!! Many nettle patches support overwintering aphids and the fresh spring growth is the perfect food source for emerging ladybirds, which in turn provide a tasty lunch for Blue Tits! Leaving patches of nettles will ensure that they flower and seed thus supply summer snacks for many seed-eating birds. Once you’ve foraged for this fabulous free resource, you can happily head home to make a yummy bowl of bright green soup. Alternatively, you could cook up a dye bath as nettles can dye natural fibres a beautiful shade of grey/green and guess what… nettle fibres can be spun into fabric!
Nettles leaves are surprisingly versatile and a great superfood rich in iron and packed full of vitamins and minerals. We start to see new growth in March, and it is these fresh bright tender green leaves that are particularly nutritious and taste a bit like spinach. It is an unmistakable plant which is familiar to almost everyone and grows pretty much everywhere. If you are collecting nettles to eat avoid any growing along a roadside but for whatever purpose you are collecting leaves - please cut/collect sustainably. Don’t cut whole clumps. Just pick a few from different places and leave plenty for insects. Obviously always wear protection on your hands (and ankles!) when picking or cutting. I usually pinch out the growing tips with my finger and thumb, but you could use scissors too. Lay the nettles out on a tray or wash in hot water to wilt. Once wilted they can no longer sting you because the sting relies on erect hairs to penetrate the skin and inject formic acid. Strip off the leaves from the tough stems. Always cook nettles or infuse in boiling water - they are not suitable for salads. Stinging nettles are one of our most important native plants for wildlife supporting over 40 species including some of our most colourful butterflies. The super stinging power of nettles present in the ‘hairs’ are
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Here are some useful links to whet you digestive and/or creative juices! www.countryfile.com/how-to/food-recipes/nettleguide-where-to-find-how-to-pick-nettles-safely-andrecipe-ideas/ www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/nettle-soup www.rebeccadesnos.com/blogs/journal/dyeing-withnettles Of course, if you don’t fancy eating or dyeing with nettles, you could make the perfect plant food. Top up a bucket of nettles with water and leave covered - in 10 days you’ll have a thick dark brown nitrogen rich liquid which once diluted 10 -1 with water, is the most amazing fertilizer, but be warned, it stinks!!! Have fun and don’t get stung! Sue x Garden Gate Flowers Tel: 07933736988 E-mail: sue@gardengaterugby.co.uk www.gardengaterugby.co.uk gardengaterugby
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