And what to do when you get there…
Last post I extolled the virtues of stinging nettle, now I will tell you what to do with them after you have harvested, dried and stored them. Here I just chat through how I use mine…
Harvesting Your Nettles
First thing to mention, which may be superfluous, is that stinging nettles sting, so get some gardening gloves on. Add to that a pair of scissors and a bag and off you go…
That is – if it is the right season.
I don’t harvest nettles in late summer after they have flowered. Old nettle leaves can be harsh on the urinary system if used every day for a long time. That is because older nettle leaves contain some constituents that some say irritate the kidneys. If you gather spring and early summer, then you will be fine.
However, if you cut nettle growth down in the spring and early summer you will get a second growth later on in the season and that is fine to harvest. It is the age of the actual leaves that is the key point: use younger leaves, not old.
Cut your nettle tops when they are DRY because if you want to store them and they are the least bit damp when put away they will go mouldy. If you are going to use them straight away [for soup or some such] this does not apply.
Cut about 6-9” [15-22cms] from the top of the plant and lay in your bag. Don’t cut at the bottom of the stem and pick high on a bank or at the back of the patch to avoid the possibility that dogs have weed on them. Try also to collect where you know there has been no pesticide sprays used.
Don’t decimate the patch, leave some so they continue to spread so you can come back next year.
Drying Your Nettles
Even though you may have picked your nettles when they felt dry, they will contain moisture, and that moisture has got to go. You can hang them up in a dry place pegged on a piece of string, hang from mesh shelves, use a dehydrator, or lay them over an aga or radiator. One low-tech herbalist I know lays her herbs out on newspaper on an ironing board in the sunshine by an open window. I bought four electric dehydrators with timers and thermostats. Both ways get the job done.
Storing Your Nettles
Nettle leaves will sound crisp when they are really dry. Strip them off the stalk and crumble into brown paper bags, with thin disposable gloves on. Name, and date the bag. Please do this. If you gather more than one type of herb after several weeks, they may all look the same, and if they don’t smell distinctive [like peppermint] you will not remember what is in your bag. Trust me on this one.
You will soon have a good store of dried nettle leaf which you can keep for absolutely ages if you have dried them properly. These leaves will make a tea which is better than you can buy in tea bags.
Cheers
