Dealing with nettles!

[ThinkEmily]

Evening all,

I've made a bit of progress down on the plot, and am feeling quite proud of myself. It's not a whole lot different from when I first posted about it (here), but it's a marathon not a sprint, right?

Anyway, my question today is about nettles. Firstly, the best way of dealing with a bed covered in nettles - just pull them out and cover with cardboard & compost as planned for the rest? Or anything special?

Secondly, I've been reading about nettles being handy more generally, and wondered if I should do something other than sticking them on the compost heap?

I'm sure you'll also be pleased to hear that my soil is lovely. FULL of worms (I never, ever thought I'd treat this as a positive) and generally looking happy. I'm also now the proud owner of a wheel barrow... and a pink watering can - don't judge me!

[Coopers]

Nettles, these almost drove me mad. In the end i cut them down and filled up a number of hesian bags which i added to my water butts. I then used this water to feed my plants.

Once nettles were chopped i covered with plastic and waited to winter just gone to attempt to dig out the roots.

My fingers are still firmly crossed that they are all dug out

[veggiechicken]

Dig out as much root as you can. Its yellow and spreading.
Don't put the roots in your compost as it will regrow but the top growth can go in - chopped preferably.
Or you can make liquid fertliser as Coopers said ^^^ but beware, it stinks
At this time of year, you can pick the young leaves and eat them - cooked of course - in soup or as a spinach substitute.

[Lumpy]

I try and leave a few as ladybirds lay their eggs on them and then they all go off a munch on your aphids.

[Martin H]

On my plot I've dug them out with my digging fork. It's not as deep rooted as a lot of weeds even when its been there for years, so I've found it a reasonably straightforward job. The only ones I have left now are those growing under the fruit trees where their roots are so entangled I can't get them all out. These ones I just keep pulling out.

I don't leave any for butterflies because they aren't interested in small patches and there are plenty of big patches nearby. Ladybirds are quite happy overwintering in the many patches of forget-me-nots that self-seed in parts of my plot (with my encouragement).

[KevinM67]

As Martin said - they are probably not the most difficult weed to remove, however if they've been there for a while, the root system can be quite extensive. Luckily it's mainly horizontal rather than deep.

I've still got quite a few on the communal path that runs alongside my plot. I used to get annoyed that my neighbour never helped to keep it in order. Now, I'm quite glad - the nettles are all mine.

As others have said - nettle tea is a thing of wonder (although stinky and messy) - once siphoned into bottles, the resultand gunge can be thrown on your veg patch, brassicas love it.

[Snadger]

I try and leave a few as ladybirds lay their eggs on them and then they all go off a munch on your aphids.

I think quite a few insects rely on nettles. I wouldn't purposely plant nettles but a small corner of the plot (and by small .I mean one metre square) could be sacrificed. I do a bit of metal detecting and always head for nettle patches as they are a sure sign of long gone habitation.Handy for making a high nitrogen feed (nettle tea) and as a hops substitute for making beer. The young tips can be par boiled and eaten , I'm led to believe but I've never tried them.
I wonder what other things they are useful for possibly rheumatism/arthritis?