Nettles!

[SusieG]

So, I can put nettles on compost heap ok if they're cut before they flower??
I've a lot of nettles .... Was just going to spray them with weed killer but prefer above option.
If I dig them out, roots an all, can all of it be thrown on the compost heap??

[SarrissUK]

Yes, you can compost them, but you could use them for a liquid feed if you put them in a bucket of water and weight them down. After a few weeks it'll stink to high heaven, but the liquid makes a fantastic feed

[veggiechicken]

Don't put the roots in the compost heap - they'll regrow!
You can eat young nettles like spinach. Nettle, potato and onion soup is nice

[Snadger]

If you grow Comfrey you can mix the nettle tea with the Comfrey tea and create a nigh on balanced fertiliser.The nettle tea is suppsedly high in Nitrogen and the Comfrey is high in Potassium.

[SusieG]

Thank you all for replies!
Think I'm going to cut them all back, save some for nettle tea and plonk the rest (minus roots, thanks VC..) onto compost heap

[lottie dolly]

MOM agrees fully

[SarrissUK]

I have composted even the roots from nettles, as I had so much of them, but only after letting them dry out in the sun for a couple of weeks, a few years ago. I didn't have any trouble with them regrowing on the compost heap - only where I'd dug them out of. I clearly didn't catch them all lol

[Muddy_Boots]

I HATE NETTLES

Blooming things always sting me even through thick gloves then I'm itching and scratching and having it throbbing for the whole day.

The reason I hate the things was from my childhood, I was sat on the rack on the back of my brothers bike and we were just wearing swimming trunks 'cos it was a scorching summer day. I'm sure we were going through this place called Moorlands which was a club with big grounds taking a shortcut when my brother decided to go through a place with nettles about 4ft high and hit a pothole. We were both catapulted into the nettles you can imagine what happened but I was no more than 6 years old. Can remember us both being covered from head to toe in Calamine lotion, we looked like screaming, crying ghosts.

[SusieG]

Muddy Boots, poor you! No wonder you have a nettle hatred!!!!
I'll savage those beasts in your honour...!!!

[Tiny Allotment]

I love nettles. I eat them straight off the plant and they taste great.

Paul