PLANT OF THE MONTH: Nettle

Scientific Name: Urtica Dioica

Nettles grow up to 5 feet tall and have opposing green leaves, which are coarsely toothed, oval, pointed on the ends, and can be several inches long. The leaves are covered in fine hairs that break easily on contact, releasing formic acid which irritates our skin.

Nettle seeds grow in tiny geometric clusters on thin threads along the stem, after the plant has flowered.  When Nettles go to flower, all the energy and goodness goes into producing the flower and seeds, and the leaves go all tough and stringy, you’ll notice they don’t look quite so vibrant! At this point, we stop picking the leaves, and turn our attentions towards foraging for nettle seeds.

Nettle seeds are small but mighty powerhouses that offer a range of benefits nutritionally and medicinally.

As the plant is dioecious, only half the plants will carry the seeds (the female). The male plants produce pollen to fertilise the female, which in turn produces the seeds. The female plants are distinguished by their slightly frosty appearance and droopiness of the flowers. Both plants are edible, but when it comes to harvesting the seeds, make sure you pick from female plants as their seeds are full of nutritional goodness.

You know the seeds are ready to pick when the long seed bundles droop towards the stem. We would generally recommend picking from the top ⅓ of the plant, where the seeds and nutrients are most abundant, also leaving plenty of opportunity for for regrowth and the plant’s survival.

While nettle leaves are best to forage in early spring, nettle seeds will be ready to harvest from mid-Summer to mid-Autumn. They are best picked when they’re plump, green and looking healthy – brown clusters of seeds are not to be picked.

How to harvest nettle seeds to dry

1. Pick the top ⅓ of the plant, leaves, stems and all.

2. Tie your nettle plants upside in a dry spot, and leave to dry for 3-4 days.

3. Using gloves, snip off the seed clusters from the stems, discarding the leaves and main stem.

4. Put all the seed clusters in a kitchen sieve, and pop over a larger bowl, rubbing the threads through a sieve to release the seeds from the little stems, which can be thrown away. 

5. Pop your seeds in a jar, and they’ll keep for up to a year.

   
   

Flavour and How to Use

Nettle seeds are pretty tasty and have a great earthy, nutty flavour.  We foraged for nettle seeds and harvest an abundance throughout late Summer/Autumn and use them throughout the seasons ahead. The seeds can be consumed fresh or dried, although once dried the seeds will not be as much of a stimulant but still great for the body. 

Essentially, you can use them in any recipe where you’d use seeds, with a few ideas to get you started below:

• Use them to make Nettle Seed Burger Buns

• Add them to your homemade granola or granola bars

• Use them in baking, for example replace poppy seeds with nettle seeds for a delicious wild twist on a lemon and poppy seed cake!

• Add them to your energy balls, or roll your homemade chocolate truffles in nettle seeds to finish

• Pop them in seeded crackers

• Make your own wild dukkah, with toasted hazelnuts, nettle seeds and common hogweed seeds

• Make a nettle seed salt to sprinkle on your dishes

• Powder them to make a nettle seed powder, to add to smoothies

• Make a tincture for your joints

• Make a nutritious nettle tea, infusing the seeds in boiling water for 5-6 minutes

Medicinal Properties

Nettle seeds are considered to be a natural source of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. They are often used to support overall vitality, promote healthy hair and nails, and enhance energy levels. Nettle seeds are great as a tonic, as the seeds contain serotonin – a teaspoon every morning is great for a pick-me-up! 

Nettle seeds helps to support the adrenal glands (the glands above the kidneys which produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure and your response to stress) and endocrine system (the system of glands in the body that releases hormones into the bloodstream so they can travel to tissue and organs throughout the body.

Nettle seeds are considered a wild adaptogenic herb. An adaptogenic herb is any herb that helps our body to respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue and overall well being.

In its most basic form helping the body to recalibrate itself back to its normal function – so a real powerhouse of a wild plant!