Nettleis usually associated as a nuisance and unpleasant stinging weed that must be removed from the garden. Meanwhile, it is worth paying attention to the valuableproperties of the nettleand instead of throwing it away, obtain valuablenettle fertilizerand plant protection preparations, such as nettle manure , stock and extract. Interestingly, nettle is also used in herbal medicine, cooking and cosmetics.
Common nettle - Urtica dioica
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Nettle - properties
Common nettle(Urtica dioica) because it is the most common nettle species in our gardens, it is actually not a particularly representative and beautiful plant. However, on each plot there are places, invisible to garden users, where we could allow it to develop and reproduce freely. Due to the valuableproperties of nettleand the possibility of its use in fertilizing and protecting plants, it will be of great benefit to us and our garden.
And what is this plant so valuable? and nitrogen as well as phosphorus, magnesium, iron, calcium, silicon, manganese, zinc) as well as chlorophyll, carotene, xanthophyll, pectins, enzymes, organic acids and mineral s alts. Thesesubstances contained in nettlehave a great influence on the developmental processes of plants, as well as their yielding and flowering. Such a large amount of nutrients and nutrients also has a significant impact on our he alth and appearance. It improves the condition of the skin and hair (also removes dandruff), lowers blood pressure and blood sugar levels, reduces sweating, improves liver and kidney function, and cleans the body of toxins and inhibits bleeding (incl. Vitamin K). Nettle is also a great herb for anemia.
Young nettle leaves are the best for harvesting and processing
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Remember, however, thatfor harvesting for further processing, the best are young nettles , which already have well-formed leaves, but have not started to bloom yet. Such young nettles contain the most concentrated amount of minerals and vitamins. In practice, the best qualitynettle herb is harvested in April and May
In order not to waste the valuableproperties of nettle , it is good to learn how to use it effectively.So let's start with the garden wherenettle applicationcan have the most benefit. We can use it in the form of liquid manure, extract or decoction to fertilize and protect our garden plants.
Nettle slurry
How to prepare nettle slurry?
The most popular of these preparations isnettle slurryTo prepare it, you need a suitable container, preferably a plastic bucket or barrel (metal dishes do not are suitable for this purpose as adverse chemical reactions may occur between the solution and the metal during fermentation). Place the collected and cut nettle in a pot and then pour water over it. As the liquid foams during the fermentation process, do not fill the vessel to the brim with water.
Cut the nettle into small pieces
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Leave the prepared solution in the container for approx.2 - 3 weeks, although in a period of high temperatures, fermentation may even be complete after about a week. The end of fermentation processes is confirmed by the lack of foaming of the solution. Unfortunately,nettle slurrygives off a very unpleasant odor (to weaken it a bit, you can add valerian, dolomite or bas alt flour to the solution), but it has a lot of nitrogen and potassium.
Nettle slurry during fermentation (fermentation foam is visible on the surface of the solution). When the solution stops foaming, it is a sign that our slurry is ready
The use of nettle liquid manure
Liquid manure is a highly valuednettle fertilizerThe ready preparation is used for watering plants, especially those with high nutritional requirements (e.g. tomatoes , cucumbers, cauliflower, roses, annual flowers and perennials, shrubs and fruit trees).
Note!Nettle manure is a very strong fertilizer.Therefore, it should be used in the form of a liquid diluted with water, depending on the needs of the fertilized species, in a ratio of 1:10 or even 1:20. Perfectly improves the condition of plants and accelerates their growth and development.
Nettle manurecan also be used as a spray for plant protection. In this case, we also use a preparation diluted with water, depending on the plant and the pest or disease. For example, to prepare a spray for combating aphids and spider mites, dilute the liquid manure 1:20 in the spring before bud break. For downy mildew and gray mold - use a 1: 10 dilution solution every two weeks.
What vegetables should be watered with nettle manure?
Diluted nettle manure is most often used for fertilizing vegetables.
Vegetables such asreact very well to fertilization with nettle manure: tomatoes, cucumbers, head cabbage white, Italian and Pekingese, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and celery.
It is especially beneficialto water these vegetables with nettle manure at the beginning of their growing season , when they produce a large mass of green parts.
However, we must remember that the nettle manure is a fertilizer that supplies large amounts of nitrogen. Therefore, thismanure should not be used to water vegetables sensitive to excess nitrogen , root vegetables, and vegetables with a short growing season, in which nitrates and nitrites may accumulate after such fertilization.
So avoid watering vegetables such aswith nettle manure: lettuce, spinach, leek, onion, garlic, carrot, parsley, root celery, radish, beans, peas.
Nettle extract
A much milder form of the preparation than liquid manure isnettle extractIt is used without diluting with water, mainly for protection against pests. It is made in the proportion of 5L of water per 0.5 kg. freshly harvested plants. After pouring water on the nettles, set aside the container for approx.1 day, then the liquid is decanted and sprayed preventively on garden plants. This preparation can be used throughout the growing season if pests such as aphids or spider mites are noticed.
Nettle decoction
Nettle decoctioncan be used to combat stem disease and potato blight on tomatoes. Prepare the stock from 0.5 kg. fresh plants and 5L of water. Boil the nettle with water for about 0.5 hours. After cooling down, dilute the finished preparation with water in a ratio of 1: 5, water it and spray the endangered plants. Most often, the decoction is used in early spring.
Good to know!Ready-made preparations of nettle in the form of concentrate for spraying and watering (stimulates and strengthens plant growth) and liquid manure for spraying appeared in garden shops (reduces diseases and pests). Thanks to this, we can enjoy the benefits of nettle, without the need to prepare preparations based on it.
Other uses of nettle in the garden
Nettle, as a freshly harvested herb , is great for mulching plants, especially vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers. It increases the yield of vegetables and improves the soil structure. It is also a valuable component of compost, for which we can store it as green fodder and water the compost with fermented slurry. The ingredients contained in the nettle andnettle slurryaccelerate the formation of compost and significantly enrich it with nutrients. In addition, various insects develop on the nettle, including several species of butterflies (e.g. nettle).
Nettle - use in the kitchen and cosmetics
Salads, tea and nettle juice
This valuable plant can also support our own he alth and appearance. We can treat it as a herb and successfully use it to prepare delicious salads and salads, and even preparenettle teaor fresh juice to drink.In this form, the nettle retains most of its valuable ingredients. Only fresh, young leaves, collected from plants that have not yet bloomed, and of course from places away from urban pollution, are suitable for consumption. The collection of young specimens or leaves from the tip of the shoot is very important, because in the older leaves, substances that are unfavorable to our he alth begin to appear. Before use, the leaves should be scalded with boiling water or let them wither, which allows you to get rid of unpleasantly stinging hairs.Infusions and teas can also be obtained from dried herb (drying in the dark and in loose bundles).
Nettle herb rinses
Apart from theuse of nettlein our menu, we can successfully use it as an ingredient in herbal rinses.Nettle rinsecan be prepared using only this plant or added to other plants that improve the condition of our hair and scalp. And because, like horsetail, nettle contains a lot of silicon, it is perfect for this purpose.It strengthens the hair, prevents greasy hair and effectively helps to get rid of dandruff. Besides, for rinses, we can use not only the green part of the plant but also the roots. The preparation of such home herbal preparations is a bit laborious, but it is worth using them because they are really very effective and, apart from a bit of effort associated with their preparation, they cost us nothing.
In general, prepare a decoction of nettle and herbswith( although you can also make a tincture) - after pouring water over them, cook over very low heat for about 0.5 hours. After cooling down, rinse the previously washed hair with a decoction, without rinsing the preparation. It will slowly penetrate the hair structure and affect the scalp.
Sample recipe forStinging nettle rinse : 3 parts fresh thyme, 3 parts nettle herb, 2 parts grated burdock root, 2 parts of nasturtium leaves, 1 part of mugwort. Pour everything over with water to cover the plants and cook for 15-20 minutes.Hops can be added to the mixture, which has an extremely positive anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-seborrhoeic effect, and horsetail, rich in silicon. After cooling, pour the liquid into a bottle and store it in the refrigerator for about a week. You can rinse your hair with the preparation twice a week.
I hope I managed to convince you thatnettle is our underestimated friendand not, as is often believed, a nuisance enemy. People interested in the use of nettle in fertilization and plant protection, please visit our forum, where there is a discussion on the topic of nettle manure.
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