Making liquid feed from stinging nettles

[Shiek Yerboutti]

Its that time of year when gardeners start making liquid feed from nettles. Unfortunately its also the time when our most beautifull insects, red admiral. tortoise shell, peacock, coma, painted lady butterflies, ladybirds, lacewings and loads of others lay their eggs on the stinging nettles for theyre larvae to eat.It is possibly the most important food plant in the UK. There has been a severe decline in most of the aforementioned insects.
There is however a simple solution. Please only take nettles from a shadded area as insects require warmth from the sun and wont lay eggs in the shade. Thanks.

[Jeanied]

What a great tip Sheikh Yerboutti!
Welcome to the vine as well.
What a great name to pick!

[Shiek Yerboutti]

Liquid feed from stinging nettles

Its that time of year when gardeners start making liquid feed from nettles. Unfortunately its also the time when our most beautifull insects, red admiral. tortoise shell, peacock, coma, painted lady butterflies, ladybirds, lacewings and loads of others lay their eggs on the stinging nettles for theyre larvae to eat.It is possibly the most important food plant in the UK. There has been a severe decline in most of the aforementioned insects.
There is however a simple solution. Please only take nettles from a shadded area as insects require warmth from the sun and wont lay eggs in the shade. Thanks.

[Shiek Yerboutti]

Thanks. I just realised after seeing your post, I spelt Sheikh wrong, Pah.

[Jeanied]

Nooo - my typo - its your Vine name after all!!!

[Patchninja]

Thanks for the tip!

[zazen999]

I've merged both your threads and popped them into Top Tips.....

[scarey55]

I see what you mean. After I read your thread I went out to take a look and found these on one of my immense nettle patches
Knowing my luck though, they are all cabbage whites - double

[Shiek Yerboutti]

Im afraid those are large white caterpillars. I dont know what theyre doing on nettles. They should eat brasicas and nasturtiums.They look big for this time of year too, theyre usually just eggs in May.How far south are you?

[scarey55]

Nooooooo!

We're only in the middle of France near to Montluçon. We don't have any brasicas or nasturtiums out yet so I guess they are eating whatever they can?

Hey ho, time to get the netting out then

Thank you for the identification though, even if it isn't good news.

[OllieMartin]

Useful info. Hope you don't mind; I've pinched it for my WikiGardener website (You've been referenced of course!)

Nettle Tea - WikiGardener Wiki

[scarey55]

Ollie, your link (to here) doesn't seem to work.

EDIT: Sorry Ollie, where are my manners - great idea and a great site. Hopefully it will become huge

[OllieMartin]

Ollie, your link (to here) doesn't seem to work.

EDIT: Sorry Ollie, where are my manners - great idea and a great site. Hopefully it will become huge

Fixed, thank you

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Ollie, thanks for spreading the word. Be great to see a few more red admirals around this year. And I promise they wont eat any of your crops.