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Stinging nettles?
Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and
soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? -- "You are a seeker. Delight in the mastery Of your hands and your feet, Of your words and your thoughts. Delight in meditation and in solitude. Compose yourself, be happy. You are a seeker." - Buddha in the Dhammapada - ChrisC |
Stinging nettles?
In article , ChrisC ?@?.?
writes Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? Stinging nettles can be annuals or perennials but the more common type seen is the perennial Urtica Dioica. They normally propagate themselves naturally, but if you need to introduce them into your garden, that can be done either by seeding in spring or by root division in any growing season. Once they are established, they will re-grow each year and like all other perennials, they will need to be controlled from spreading more that you wish. Though stinging nettles may seem very vigorous, they should not be cut too hard or more often than three times annually, or they will cease to thrive. Nettles are an excellent plant to have in the garden, they have many culinary, medicinal and horticultural uses and their fibres are used for making paper and linen. Have a look at the urg FAQ describing nettle infusion at: http://www.nugget.demon.co.uk/MetaFAQ/nettle.html -- Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs. |
Stinging nettles?
ChrisC wrote in message ... Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? -- What do nettles taste like? I assume they must be realy good to want them in your garden. Bob |
Stinging nettles?
"Bob Smith" wrote in message ... ChrisC wrote in message ... Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? -- What do nettles taste like? I assume they must be realy good to want them in your garden. Bob _______________________-- Young nettles taste similar to spinach. They do need a good rich soil to thrive. I always knew they had been used for their fibres but was surprised to hear on the television this week that 1st World war knapsacks were made from these fibres. Some texts state that they were introduced by the Romans. It has been shown that this is the very first plant that chidren recognise~~The sting probably! Regards Brian.. " Nettles don't sting Mondays" M Miller. |
Stinging nettles?
"Alan Gould" wrote in message ... In article , ChrisC ?@?.? writes Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? G*d! Someone actually wants to introduce them? Be careful what you do, they grow and multiply like there is no tomorrow. I have spent the last five years battling to get rid of a garden full of them. I have dug them up, cut them off, put weedkiller on them and still the b*ggers come back. You want stinging nettles? You come and take a few of mine ( some of mine are six f eet high this year) |
Stinging nettles?
"mich" wrote in message ... "Alan Gould" wrote in message ... In article , ChrisC ?@?.? writes Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? G*d! Someone actually wants to introduce them? Be careful what you do, they grow and multiply like there is no tomorrow. I have spent the last five years battling to get rid of a garden full of them. I have dug them up, cut them off, put weedkiller on them and still the b*ggers come back. You want stinging nettles? You come and take a few of mine ( some of mine are six f eet high this year) -------------------- If your soil grows nettles so well then you should be able to grow anything . They only grow on very good soil. Brian |
Stinging nettles?
ChrisC wrote in message ... Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? -- Whoe, I certainly wouldn't go and get any of the local common, not with all those dogs and cats around..... the sheer thought ! -- troubleinstore http://www.tuppencechange.co.uk Personal mail can be sent via website. Email address in posting is ficticious and is intended as spam trap --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.713 / Virus Database: 469 - Release Date: 30/06/2004 |
Stinging nettles?
In article ,
Brian wrote: "Bob Smith" wrote in message ... ChrisC wrote in message .. . Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? What do nettles taste like? I assume they must be realy good to want them in your garden. Young nettles taste similar to spinach. They do need a good rich soil to thrive. I always knew they had been used for their fibres but was surprised to hear on the television this week that 1st World war knapsacks were made from these fibres. Some texts state that they were introduced by the Romans. When I tried them, they were strongly reminiscent of boiled cotton wool. It is the small nettle that was introduced by the Romans. And they seed themselves like the devil, but need a high-phosphate soil to thrive (hence their occurrence where livestock have been kept). While the poxious Whitehall bureaucrats have made it illegal to dig up nettle stems (they will not regrow from the yellow roots), nobody sane will give a damn. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Stinging nettles?
In article , ChrisC ?@?.?
writes Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? There are two common species of nettle, both of which seed. The annual nettle spreads almost entirely by seed - this is the one you usually find when you are hand weeding a row of seedlings. The 4ft monster has separate male and female flowers and I think they're on separate plants, and the main way this spreads is by runners. Your quickest bet would be to yank up some roots and transplant. However, you are not allowed to uproot any wild plant without the permission of the landowner (and some have stricter protection). So you need to ask before you do. Even common land has an owner. -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
Stinging nettles?
In article , mich
writes "Alan Gould" wrote in message ... In article , ChrisC ?@?.? writes Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? G*d! Someone actually wants to introduce them? Be careful what you do, they grow and multiply like there is no tomorrow. I have spent the last five years battling to get rid of a garden full of them. I have dug them up, cut them off, put weedkiller on them and still the b*ggers come back. If you dig them up and get the roots out they don't come back. They're easier to get rid of than ground elder. -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
Stinging nettles?
"Bob Smith" wrote
What do nettles taste like? In addition to soup, tea and vegetable use, in our family we also eat "nettle nuts" which are the mature flower strings. You have to be careful picking them but they make a pleasurable occasional nibble when out gardening. They're eaten raw, straight off the plant, and my family and I have never stung our tongues. regards Don |
Stinging nettles?
In article , Bob Smith
writes What do nettles taste like? I assume they must be realy good to want them in your garden. Their flavour when cooked as a boiled vegetable is not unlike cabbage or spinach, but that is only one of many reasons for wanting them in the garden. I use them mainly for nettle infusion to be used as an insect repellent, a plant tonic and a source of soil nutrients, and for organic composting. They also can be used for making very good beers, wines, teas and in salads or casseroles. -- Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs. |
Stinging nettles?
In message , Alan Gould
writes In article , Bob Smith writes What do nettles taste like? I assume they must be realy good to want them in your garden. Their flavour when cooked as a boiled vegetable is not unlike cabbage or spinach, but that is only one of many reasons for wanting them in the garden. I use them mainly for nettle infusion to be used as an insect repellent, a plant tonic and a source of soil nutrients, and for organic composting. They also can be used for making very good beers, wines, teas and in salads or casseroles. And are, apparently, very good for you ... and your livestock. Found this - though I don't know why Vermont, I didn't think stinging nettels existed in the USA . http://www.ruralvermont.com/vermontw...g/98005/nettle ..shtml -- Klara, Gatwick basin |
Stinging nettles?
On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 02:30:05 +0100, ChrisC wrote:
Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? The specific epithet "dioica" gives us an important clue. The common nettle is "dioecious", which means that individual plants bear only male or only female plants. (I'm sure you can find exceptional plants that either bear both, or bear complete flowers.) Best to dig some up being careful to take males only. Then you'll only have them spreading madly at the root, rather than seeding about as well. Also, there are (or so I've been told) occasional individual plants of nettle that lack the sting, but the process of determining which are which sounds like a painful one. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada [change "atlantic" to "pacific" and "invalid" to "net" to reply by email] |
Stinging nettles?
In article , Klara
writes And are, apparently, very good for you ... and your livestock. Found this - though I don't know why Vermont, I didn't think stinging nettels existed in the USA . John Lust, writing in 'The Herb Book' says that stinging nettles are found in U.S.A. in States Northwards from Colorado, Missouri and South Carolina. Maybe the temperatures are too high for them South of that? -- Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs. |
Stinging nettles?
"Alan Gould" wrote in message ... In article , Bob Smith writes What do nettles taste like? I assume they must be realy good to want them in your garden. Their flavour when cooked as a boiled vegetable is not unlike cabbage or spinach, but that is only one of many reasons for wanting them in the garden. I use them mainly for nettle infusion to be used as an insect repellent, a plant tonic and a source of soil nutrients, and for organic composting. They also can be used for making very good beers, wines, teas and in salads or casseroles. My paternal grandmother ( according to my father) always used them as a tea to "clean the blood". She used a lot of weeds and nettles and knew herbal medicine quite well apparently. Usually used in spring after a poorer and stodgier diet of winter ( the old lady was born in the 1870's - didnt have my father until she was 54 and there was no test tube babies and the like back then) |
Stinging nettles?
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Stinging nettles?
On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 17:52:38 +0100, Alan Gould
wrote: In article , Klara writes And are, apparently, very good for you ... and your livestock. Found this - though I don't know why Vermont, I didn't think stinging nettels existed in the USA . John Lust, writing in 'The Herb Book' says that stinging nettles are found in U.S.A. in States Northwards from Colorado, Missouri and South Carolina. Maybe the temperatures are too high for them South of that? I had a half-garden-full of them in inland southern California (HOT summers!) - in the spring, those that survived my hacking at them died in the summer - but they came back every year. cheers, Marj -- Mediterranean Garden Advice and Shop: http://stores.tiefert.com/garden/ Also: http://www.mindspring.com/~mtiefert/...gardening.html In Sunset zone 14-mild |
Stinging nettles?
The message
from "Brian" contains these words: Young nettles taste similar to spinach. My Granny used to feed us cooked young nettletops every spring; they contain iron and were a traditional rural spring "cleanser", for which read vermifuge. She used to pick the tops with a firm grasp of her bare hands, and didn't get stung. Writing this I can still remember the smell of the fresh nettles on her hands. She said nettles old enough to sting, were too old and tough to eat. An old friend of mine still makes and eats a recipe for "Spring Pudding", from Cumbria, which iirc contains young nettle tips, sheep sorrel, and some other wild herb I've forgotten. I made it once, but Granny's nettles are preferable :-) They do need a good rich soil to thrive. I always knew they had been used for their fibres but was surprised to hear on the television this week that 1st World war knapsacks were made from these fibres. Last time I went to a farm show on the mainland, the WRI had the usual demos of spun, woven and knitted wool and hair (everything from sheep to rabbits cats and a dog), and woven fabric made from nettles. Nettle fabric is much like linen made from flax, and the process is similar. Janet. |
Stinging nettles?
"Alan Gould" wrote in message ... In article , ChrisC ?@?.? writes Do stinging nettles seed? I would quite like to grow them for tea and soup purposes. Or would it be advisable to go dig some up at the local common? Stinging nettles can be annuals or perennials but the more common type seen is the perennial Urtica Dioica. They normally propagate themselves naturally, but if you need to introduce them into your garden, that can be done either by seeding in spring or by root division in any growing season. Once they are established, they will re-grow each year and like all other perennials, they will need to be controlled from spreading more that you wish. Though stinging nettles may seem very vigorous, they should not be cut too hard or more often than three times annually, or they will cease to thrive. Nettles are an excellent plant to have in the garden, they have many culinary, medicinal and horticultural uses and their fibres are used for making paper and linen. Have a look at the urg FAQ describing nettle infusion at: http://www.nugget.demon.co.uk/MetaFAQ/nettle.html -- Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs ****** For cooking for dinner either with or without cabbage, harvest and use only the tips at the top. Just nip them off with three or four leaves on. As children we used just our bare fingers and never suffered any stinging. Boiled like cabbage nettles have a distinct taste of their own which we found quite acceptable. Doug. ****** |
Stinging nettles?
"Janet Baraclough.." wrote in message ... The message from "Brian" contains these words: Young nettles taste similar to spinach. My Granny used to feed us cooked young nettletops every spring; they contain iron and were a traditional rural spring "cleanser .. An old friend of mine still makes and eats a recipe for "Spring Pudding", from Cumbria, which iirc contains young nettle tips, sheep sorrel, and some other wild herb I've forgotten. I made it once, but Granny's nettles are preferable :-) Last time I went to a farm show on the mainland, the WRI had the usual demos of spun, woven and knitted wool and hair (everything from sheep to rabbits cats and a dog), and woven fabric made from nettles. Nettle fabric is much like linen made from flax, and the process is similar. Janet. ___________________- Cumbrians do/did seem to make use of nettles. I remember a pub that sold nettle beer in much the same way that Somerset pubs had Cider.The beer tasted awful. I believe they still use nettles to cover their cheeses. 'Smells' do linger in one's memory. The smell of differing 'grownups' made them identifiable~~especially if they were known for sweets!!. More than anything was the smell of Cedar wood, in the kindergarten, after I had butchered dozens of pencils in the sharpener. The back of my leg stung but it was worth it! Rain smelt different every season. Only hay seems to have the same scent. "Nostalgia isn't what it used to be" Brian 'flayb' to respond. |
Stinging nettles?
In message opsamlkuvjadtv40@matservices, M. Tiefert
writes John Lust, writing in 'The Herb Book' says that stinging nettles are found in U.S.A. in States Northwards from Colorado, Missouri and South Carolina. Maybe the temperatures are too high for them South of that? I had a half-garden-full of them in inland southern California (HOT summers!) - in the spring, those that survived my hacking at them died in the summer - but they came back every year. Amazing! Somehow I missed them even though I lived in the States for years! Next, I'll probably find out that there is poison ivy here in the UK! -- Klara, Gatwick basin |
Stinging nettles?
On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 23:08:44 +0100, Klara wrote:
In message opsamlkuvjadtv40@matservices, M. Tiefert writes I had a half-garden-full of them in inland southern California (HOT summers!) - in the spring, those that survived my hacking at them died in the summer - but they came back every year. Amazing! Somehow I missed them even though I lived in the States for years! Next, I'll probably find out that there is poison ivy here in the UK! They also live alongside streams in southeastern Ohio. I'm originally from Ohio, and nobody there seemed to consider nettles to be non-native wild plants. The ones in Ohio seemed somewhat milder than the nasties I had in s. Calif - even the babies stung, so I had to be careful when walking about the garden in sandals. cheers, Marj -- Mediterranean Garden Advice and Shop: http://stores.tiefert.com/garden/ Also: http://www.mindspring.com/~mtiefert/...gardening.html In Sunset zone 14-mild |
Stinging nettles?
The message
from "Brian" contains these words: 'Smells' do linger in one's memory. The smell of differing 'grownups' made them identifiable~~especially if they were known for sweets!!. My Granny's house was reached across a weed and water filled ditch. Whenever we arrived, she was standing at the ditch waiting to greet us; so for years and years I thought the ripe stagnant stink was her. More than anything was the smell of Cedar wood, in the kindergarten, after I had butchered dozens of pencils in the sharpener. My kindergarten smelt of polish and boiled milk, when milk still had a smell. Janet. |
Stinging nettles?
In article ,
Janet Baraclough.. wrote: The message from "Brian" contains these words: 'Smells' do linger in one's memory. The smell of differing 'grownups' made them identifiable~~especially if they were known for sweets!!. More than anything was the smell of Cedar wood, in the kindergarten, after I had butchered dozens of pencils in the sharpener. My kindergarten smelt of polish and boiled milk, when milk still had a smell. I can still remember the smell and taste of Klim made up too weak. While I don't wake up in the middle of the night, screaming, when I do, you get the idea. Back in the days and society where 4 year olds were whipped by the teacher, we had a demonstration over it. "Pl,ease, miss, could you make it full strength?" I can still remember the expression of utter shock on her face - but she did it, and it was thereafter merely disgusting. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Stinging nettles?
Hello All
SNIP My Granny used to feed us cooked young nettletops every spring; they contain iron and were a traditional rural spring "cleanser", for which read vermifuge. She used to pick the tops with a firm grasp of her bare hands, and didn't get stung. Writing this I can still remember the smell of the fresh nettles on her hands. She said nettles old enough to sting, were too old and tough to eat. SNIP Janet. I was taught as a young lad that one can catch hold of stinging nettles with bare hands without getting stung PROVIDING you grab hold of them firmly. It is brushing against them that stings you. I can confirm that it works (at least for me !) John -- EurIng J Rye CEng FIEE Electrical Engineering Consultant 18 Wentworth Close Hadleigh IPSWICH IP7 5SA England Tel No 01473 827126 http://web.ukonline.co.uk/jrye/index.html --- On Line using an Acorn StrongArm RiscPC --- |
Stinging nettles?
In article , Nick Maclaren
writes I can still remember the smell and taste of Klim made up too weak. While I don't wake up in the middle of the night, screaming, when I do, you get the idea. Back in the days and society where 4 year olds were whipped by the teacher, we had a demonstration over it. "Pl,ease, miss, could you make it full strength?" I can still remember the expression of utter shock on her face - but she did it, and it was thereafter merely disgusting. Klim? -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
Stinging nettles?
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Stinging nettles?
"Eur Ing John Rye" wrote in message ... Hello All SNIP I was taught as a young lad that one can catch hold of stinging nettles with bare hands without getting stung PROVIDING you grab hold of them firmly. It is brushing against them that stings you. I can confirm that it works (at least for me !) I watched my grandfather pull nettles barehanded. So, I lent a hand ............... As he helped me find young Dock leaves to relieve the stinging, with a smile in his eye, he pointed out the difference between 'stinging nettles' and 'dead nettle'. One lesson never forgotten! -- ned http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk |
Stinging nettles?
In article , Sacha writes: | On 5/7/04 11:04 pm, in article , "Kay" | wrote: | | Klim? | | War time powdered milk - KLIM - MILK backwards. Yes :-) It lasted for quite a while after the war where I was, because the fresh milk was unsafe (seriously so). Heat-dried milk lasted until at least the 1960s in the UK, and there was a period when free-dried was the expensive alternative. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Stinging nettles?
On 6 Jul 2004 07:25:18 GMT, Nick Maclaren wrote:
[Klim] lasted for quite a while after the war where I was, because the fresh milk was unsafe (seriously so). Heat-dried milk lasted until at least the 1960s in the UK, and there was a period when free-dried was the expensive alternative. Klim was made well into the seventies; a place here used to carry it, made in Ireland iirc. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada [change "atlantic" to "pacific" and "invalid" to "net" to reply by email] |
Stinging nettles?
In article , Nick Maclaren
writes It lasted for quite a while after the war where I was, because the fresh milk was unsafe (seriously so). Heat-dried milk lasted until at least the 1960s in the UK, and there was a period when free-dried was the expensive alternative. By the time I started school in the late 50s we were on fresh milk. It used to be delivered at about 4am, so in winter was well frozen by the time the teachers arrived. They then ranged the 98 milk bottles along the heating pipes, and by break time we were treated to warm milk (with that yukky boiled milk taste) with a solid centre ;-) -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
Stinging nettles?
In article ,
Kay wrote: In article , Nick Maclaren writes It lasted for quite a while after the war where I was, because the fresh milk was unsafe (seriously so). Heat-dried milk lasted until at least the 1960s in the UK, and there was a period when free-dried was the expensive alternative. By the time I started school in the late 50s we were on fresh milk. It used to be delivered at about 4am, so in winter was well frozen by the time the teachers arrived. They then ranged the 98 milk bottles along the heating pipes, and by break time we were treated to warm milk (with that yukky boiled milk taste) with a solid centre ;-) Compared with Klim, that is wonderful! Compared with half-strength Klim, you can't imagine. As you know, I wasn't referring to the UK. "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" Quite so. That may help with locating my reference :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Stinging nettles?
"Kay" wrote in message ... In article , Nick Maclaren writes It lasted for quite a while after the war where I was, because the fresh milk was unsafe (seriously so). Heat-dried milk lasted until at least the 1960s in the UK, and there was a period when free-dried was the expensive alternative. By the time I started school in the late 50s we were on fresh milk. It used to be delivered at about 4am, so in winter was well frozen by the time the teachers arrived. They then ranged the 98 milk bottles along the heating pipes, and by break time we were treated to warm milk (with that yukky boiled milk taste) with a solid centre ;-) -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" ****** I can well remember when they first introduced small bottles of milk for shoolchildren. At morning "playtime" we first drank our milk with a straw before rushing out to shout and run about like mad things in the schoolyard. I always used to start with the bottom of the straw-end at the top of the milk drink then luxuriate when it reached the half-inch of cream at the bottom. It tasted like cream 'nectar.' I won't speak of the politician who finally stopped free school milk for chidren because it had socialistically inspired benefits. Doug. ****** |
Stinging nettles?
In message , Alan Gould
writes In article , Bob Smith writes What do nettles taste like? I assume they must be realy good to want them in your garden. Their flavour when cooked as a boiled vegetable is not unlike cabbage or spinach, but that is only one of many reasons for wanting them in the garden. I use them mainly for nettle infusion to be used as an insect repellent, a plant tonic and a source of soil nutrients, and for organic composting. They also can be used for making very good beers, wines, teas and in salads or casseroles. And are, apparently, very good for you ... and your livestock. Found this - though I don't know why Vermont, I didn't think stinging nettels existed in the USA . http://www.ruralvermont.com/vermontw...g/98005/nettle ..shtml -- Klara, Gatwick basin |
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