Content
The collection of nettles is carried out according to a number of instructions in order to avoid burns and minor injuries. The plant has many useful characteristics that are important in medicine, cooking and other areas of life. The plant can be stored for a long time so that it does not lose its medicinal qualities.
Nettle is a useful herb that can be stored for years
Features of collecting nettles
Nettle is divided into stinging nettle (an annual plant) and dioecious nettle (perennial). Both species are widely used as a dietary supplement and for medicinal purposes. Nettle harvesting is carried out following a number of instructions. The plant has a huge amount of useful vitamins, acids, and minerals, so it is widely used in cooking, both fresh and dried.
The medicinal properties, and with them the cosmetic properties, are separately noted. Nettle takes care of the skin, hair, and joints. The vitamin boost is definitely good for your health. However, before using the plant daily for food and medicine, you should consult your doctor.
Where can you collect nettles?
The plant spreads in the Caucasus, Western Siberia, and in general throughout the European part of the country. This representative of the flora prefers high humidity, rich, fertile soil, and shady areas. Nettles often have to be collected in forests, gardens, among bushes; there is a lot of it near residential settlements and along roads.
The plant is not collected everywhere. Even if it grows in abundance along highways, you should not touch it, due to the presence of many harmful substances (road dust, exhaust gases absorbed by leaves). You cannot collect nettles near industrial zones, manufacturing plants, drains, as well as near city landfills, or in places with high radiation and unfavorable sanitary conditions.
Optimal time to collect nettles
They begin to collect young nettles in the spring, in the month of May. For personal purposes (for food and medicine) collections end in July. It is often used as a feed additive for domestic animals (chickens, livestock); for this purpose, preference is given to more mature specimens, collected closer to August.
The collection of above-ground parts is done in the morning in dry weather; the roots can be dug up even during rain.
Nettle root decoction treats throat
For food
Nettles can be collected for food. Usually it is used to make preparations for the winter in powder form, but there are many recipes for preparing it fresh. To do this, young leaves and shoots are collected, washed and immediately cooked. This option is suitable for soups, salads, omelets; it is added to cottage cheese, mixed with butter, etc. Immediately before adding to the dish, the leaves are scalded.
For treatment
Medicinal plant materials are prepared from different parts of nettle. Beneficial properties accumulate in all parts of the plant - foliage, stems, roots, buds, etc. At different stages of the life cycle, nettle has different amounts of medicinal substances. Their highest content occurs at the end of flowering, before flowers and foliage begin to bloom.
Thus, the underground parts are harvested in the fall or early spring before the sap begins to flow. In this case, the roots are collected in the fall before the above-ground parts of the plant die.
The foliage, flowers and shoots are filled with medicinal properties during flowering, when the harvest takes place, around June-August. To do this, cut the stem with a sickle, pruning shears or knife and leave it for several hours. Soon the foliage will stop burning, so you can pick it and other parts.
For drying
They begin collecting nettles for drying in the month of May. Although a person may only need the leaves, it is better to cut them along with the stem. The flora must be inspected so that the foliage is free of cobwebs, dirt (they can be from parasites), and also does not have changes in color. Naturally, healthy, not limp leaves are needed.
They are collected in small bunches. After a few hours, the plant will stop burning, so you can safely separate the foliage and other parts. Drying is carried out in air (hanging bunches or laying leaves on fabric), in an oven, oven and other methods.
Collection rules
Preference should be given to specimens with a powerful stem, smooth foliage without signs of disease or wilting. It is also worth choosing those options with a lot of large foliage.
You need to collect nettles according to the instructions
If you are going to collect roots, then spreading grass with wide leaves and a strong trunk implies a strong, healthy root. It can be dug with an ordinary garden shovel (plunging it 10-15 cm into the ground) in cloudy weather, since this is followed by washing the root.
Collection of nettles for leaves and other ground parts is carried out only in dry weather in the morning, when the dew has dried. It is recommended to use a sickle or knife to cut them from the stems. If you only need leaves, be sure to wear household gloves.
Processing and storing nettles
Harvesting leaves and other parts of nettles are stored for up to 2 years. However, the older it is, the less useful properties it contains. The roots must be washed in cool (not hot!) water, and the stem is immediately separated. Other parts are separated from each other; they need to be carefully examined and alien samples, as well as unsuitable parts (sluggish, sick, etc.) excluded. The dried plant is crushed into powder and stored in dark glass jars, less often - in fabric bags in a suspended state so that the nettle is ventilated.
Conclusion
Harvesting nettles is not an easy process and requires caution due to the protective functions of the bush. It is collected and stored for about 2 years, added to food and used for medicinal purposes. Nettle is one of the most useful representatives of the flora that has a beneficial effect on the human body.
