Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) are a quirky plant to grow in the wetland garden, to be sure. Yet despite the fact that they have stinging hairs, they are an extremely valuable plant to grow in the wet garden. Nettles are full of calcium and iron, and they are also widely used as a cleansing spring tea or as a steamed vegetable. Food gardeners who have extremely wet gardens can find it hard to determine edible plants that will thrive in their gardens. Growing stinging nettles in the damp or wetland garden turns this space into a thriving vegetable garden.
Growing Stinging Nettles
Stinging nettles thrive in the wet garden. They are a vigorous and weedy plant in many places, and once they are invited into a part of the wetland garden the nettles love to stay and grow. Choose a sunny location where the nettles will have damp roots. Plant them in a corner of the garden that is out of the way of children and pets.
Harvesting Stinging Nettles
Although some people do not react strongly to the little stinging hairs of the nettle plant, many people do react. It is best to wear a sturdy pair of garden gloves when planting, tending to, and harvesting stinging nettles. Use hand pruners as well, since the nettles are often shallowly-rooted and may come out of the ground if pulled. Nettles are best as a cleansing herb in the early spring. Pick the top few leaves in the early spring and the nettles will grow vigorously throughout the summer.
Drying Stinging Nettles for Tea
To preserve this important medicinal plant for cleansing teas, cut the nettle plant near its base. Do this on a sunny day if at all possible, or the nettles will be very damp. Collect several plants together and tie them at the base, hanging them upside-down for good air flow. After a week when the nettles are completely dry, remove the leaves and crush the plants. Store them in containers as nettle tea.
Steaming Stinging Nettles for Soup
Nettles have a rich, earthy taste that is a wonderful complement to lighter flavors like lemon and milk. They taste glorious when they are pureed in a soup. Take care when storing and moving the nettles into a pot, since they can sting until they are steamed. Steam the nettles until they are somewhat limp and bright green, and test a corner to ensure that the sting is gone. Puree them into soups or use them like chard in stir fries.
Stinging nettles are a nutritious spring food, and they are also an excellent edible plant to grow in the wetland garden. Harvest them frequently to tame the nettle patch and ensure that the existing plants grow vigorously. While stinging nettles have a bad reputation for making people itchy, they are also a wonderful healing herb for the wetland garden.
Tricia Edgar - Tricia Edgar is a gardener, environmental educator, and science writer from the Pacific Northwest.
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