Content
- Nettle Leaves: The green with poison cannulas
- What do the leaves look like?
- The nettle poison - where exactly is it?
- Pick the leaves
- Versatile: tea, spinach, manure, mulch etc.
- Nutrient-rich and curative
- Tips
Insects do not bother the stinging hairs on the nettle leaves
Nettle Leaves: The green with poison cannulas
Unfortunately, the stinging nettle does not have a particularly good reputation. Getting in touch with her requires courage. But: Her leaves do not only have nettle poisons in them. They are used in medicine, in the kitchen and in the green paradises of many organic gardeners.
What do the leaves look like?
Depending on the species, the leaves of the nettle differ. Perhaps significant for you is that the leaves of the Small Nettle contain more effective nettle poison (contact is more painful) than the leaves of the Large Nettle.
Features that the leaves of all stinging nettle species have in common are:
The nettle poison - where exactly is it?
Most of the stinging hair that contains the nettle poison is on top of the leaves. These are long tubes whose tops are as brittle as glass. When touched, the tips burst and the venom toxin, which is located in the lower tube area, is injected upwards into the skin.
Pick the leaves
From April - and in mild conditions already in March - the first leaves of the nettle can be picked. The ideal period for picking the leaves is between May and June. Ideally, collect only the young leaves. These taste best.
Versatile: tea, spinach, manure, mulch etc.
The nettle leaves are edible without hesitation. Both fresh and dried or previously frozen, they can be used in the kitchen. They are suitable for example for:
In addition, you can use the leaves for mulching or for making a nettle. The manure is used among others as fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide. Unlike chemicals, it does not harm the environment.
Nutrient-rich and curative
Here are further advantages of nettle leaves:
Tips
Do not harvest the leaves when it rains, because they have lost a lot of flavor.