The benefits of this plant outweigh the risk of a short-lived sting. Biodynamic gardeners use the dark green nettles to increase potency of neighboring herbs and to stimulate humus formation. Young shoots are high in minerals—the leaves are delicious in soup or steamed as early spring greens or dried and brewed as tea.
Handle fresh and dry herb with gloves. Cooking removes the sting. Choose your planting site carefully; nettles spread readily, and both the rhizomes and leaves sting. An indicator of super-fertile soil where it volunteers.
Plant in damp rich soil with high nitrogen content; thrives next to composted manure piles or the lush side of your leaky compost bin. Z2. Maine Grown. (bare-root crowns)
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