Content
- Breeding stinging nettles - why not?
- Reasons to talk about breeding nettle
- There are also counterarguments
- Decide what kind you want!
- Pull nettles out of seeds
- Spread with root spurs
- Tips
Seed breeding is possible but may not be successful
Breeding stinging nettles - why not?
Stinging nettles enjoy few lovers. Most people know them as annoying and wheal causing (un-) herb. Why should one come up with the idea to breed them extra, especially as they are a weed that grows in many locations?
Reasons to talk about breeding nettle
There are several reasons to breed stinging nettles, for example in the home garden or in general on a larger property:
There are also counterarguments
But there are also counterarguments. This includes, for example, that the stinging nettle grows wild in nature and cultivation is not necessary. Breeding requires a certain amount of work and time. Furthermore, the stinging nettle causes burning and itching on contact with the skin. On top of that, species like the well-known Great Nettle are prone to proliferate by their roots.
Decide what kind you want!
Before you start breeding stinging nettles, you should decide which species to grow. The nettle and the large nettle are widespread in Germany. They have proven themselves. Or should it rather be something more exotic, such as the pills stinging nettle or the reed stinging nettle?
Pull nettles out of seeds
It is less recommendable to pull stinging nettles out of seeds, because the seeds have a poor germination capacity - at least in direct sowing in the field. They are frost germs, which should be preferred in the pot. When the first leaves are there, they can be planted out.
Spread with root spurs
It is better to reproduce or breed stinging nettles over their roots. In April 10 cm long Wurzelausläufer be separated and planted. The Great Nettle has many of these foothills. This makes sense on a small scale, but too costly on a large scale.
Tips
Although the stinging nettle is robust, yet it is not immune from disease and pest infestation.