Urticacées • Urtica dioica

Stinging Nettle - Organic

"A prickly and generous perennial, a nourishing companion for living soils."

$4.49

Number of seeds 150 seeds

Found in the wild across much of Eurasia and naturalized in North America, stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica ) readily finds its place in natural gardens. A vigorous plant of rich soils, it creates deep green clumps and, wherever it is given space, forms a veritable haven of biodiversity.

Its toothed leaves and stinging hairs require careful handling, but behind this defense lies an edible plant and an excellent indicator of fertile soil. In a garden in harmony with the seasons, nettle can become a valuable ally: young leaves to harvest in spring, refuge for numerous insects, and a resource for preparing fermented extracts useful in the vegetable garden.

Growing climate: Cool season
Sowing difficulty level: Medium
Care required: Occasional
Growth: Rapid growth

Note: Very vigorous plant and suckers when it likes it; preferably to be planted in a delimited area or monitored to prevent it from spreading too much.

The young leaves of stinging nettle, when thoroughly cooked, are eaten as a green vegetable and used in various preparations: soups, stews, quiches, stuffings, sauces, or even as a substitute for spinach in many recipes. Cooking neutralizes the stinging hairs, making the plant pleasant to eat. The leaves can be blanched and then frozen for later use. They are also suitable for drying (in small quantities, spread out well and protected from moisture) to prepare infusions.

In ecological gardening practices, nettle is also used to prepare fermented extracts (often called nettle manure) intended for fertilization and sometimes for crop protection, respecting the recommended dosages and uses.