Whether for preparing liquid manure, for infusing a dehydrating tea or for cooking spinach - the stinging nettle should be harvested at the right time. But when is that and what difference does it make whether it is harvested in spring, summer or autumn?
The young shoots of nettles are best harvested in late spring
Harvest time depends on the parts of the plant
The stinging nettle can generally always be picked when it has grown large enough. This period is between May and September. It usually sprout in April and persists well into autumn.
But there are certain periods of time when the harvest of certain parts of the plant is particularly worthwhile or even possible in the first place:
- Seed harvest: In early autumn
- Flower harvest: July to September
- Harvest the fresh shoots: April to May
- Harvest large, strong leaves: late April to June
tips
Don't wait long before processing nettle or preserving it by drying or freezing it!