Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettle (Urtica Dioica) - Stinging Nettle is found growing all across North America and especially in moist, forested soil. If you have experienced the pain of Stinging Nettle, wisdom would tell you to avoid this plant. But, this perennial is used as a medicinal herb, and it is used in the kitchen as well where cooking will remove the stinging effect of the leaves. It is considered to be more nutritious in iron than spinach. For the best flavor and nutrition, harvest only the top 4 - 5 inches of the Stinging Nettle plant. Harvest before the plant flowers.

Stinging Nettle has a long history as a medicinal herb. During medieval times it was used as a diuretic, to treat joint pain, and muscle pain. Today it is used by some to treat urinary problems related to an enlarged prostate, and some use it for the relief of arthritis pain.

Stinging Nettle seed is small, and it is easier to work with if it is mixed with some garden sand. Some gardeners recommend that the Stinging Nettle seed needs a cold treatment before germinating. Freeze the seeds for several weeks before starting the Stinging Nettle seeds indoors before the end of frost season. Cover the starter trays or pots with a plastic dome or plastic wrap to help keep the moisture high. Once the seedlings are 3 - 4 inches in height, transplant them to the herb garden. Or directly sow the Stinging Nettle seed outdoors in the late fall so that the seed can freeze through the winter. The plants can be invasive, so it is best to contain it to an area and not let it go to seed. Always wear gloves when working with the plant.