Stinging Nettle

suzieq1969, Dec 17, 5:20pm
Can anyone tell me after it has been sprayed and died does it lose its sting.,
harrislucinda, Dec 17, 6:43pm
please don't kill did you not know it is food for our native butterflies they lay their eggs and the caterpillars eat the leaves then make a cocoon
do you pull out or kill the monarch butterflies milk weed ?
lilyfield, Dec 17, 6:56pm
Or free food for us?
jessebird, Dec 17, 8:20pm
The stinging nettle is not a swan plant.
lythande1, Dec 18, 2:43am
No.
The "stings" are attached. Just wear gloves if it affects you badly.

Stinging nettle is a common weed. Not a native plant at all.

Nettles are plants with sharp hairs on their leaves. If you touch them, these hairs inject irritants into the skin.
suzieq1969, Dec 18, 5:32am
I have to remove it for a job, but just wondering the best way to go about it. Yes I am aware of the beneficial properties of it, but at present that is not what I am asking.
smallwoods, Dec 18, 6:06am
When dead and dry, they will lose the irritant but still prick you.

Best in salads.
Also is an indication that the area is fertile.
harrislucinda, Dec 18, 8:36am
who said it was
harm_less, Dec 18, 2:30pm
[quote=lythande1.
Stinging nettle is a common weed. Not a native plant at all. [/quote]

Ongaonga (Urtica ferox) is a native nettle with a bit more of a sting than the 'weed' variety. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/poisonous-plants-and-fungi/page-1
whitehead., Dec 18, 3:07pm
pick it from the bottom every one ive seen who eat it seems to do that
harrislucinda, Dec 18, 3:12pm
Ongaonga (Urtica ferox) is a native nettle with a bit more of a sting than the 'weed' variety. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/poisonous-plants-and-fungi/page-1[/quote] looking at that its the weed I think they are talking about
harrislucinda, Dec 18, 3:14pm
ok will go out and pick some up for you right just picked up some NEARLY dead and no sting
tweake, Dec 18, 4:59pm
i wouldn't be eating nettle. maybe the tame overseas version but not NZ one, its lethal.
cantabman1, Dec 18, 6:21pm
No it is not, but it is the food for the Red And Yellow Admiral Butter fly caterpillars.
masturbidder, Dec 19, 6:59pm
My granma used to boil nettles in UK, said it was good for us, tastes a bit like spinach.
The NZ plant looks different.
ryanm2, Dec 19, 7:27pm
once cooked its fine, give it a go. You wouldn't eat raw cow but once cooked its not too bad eh.
kaptn, Dec 20, 11:25am
Also great for getting rid of pain from a Gall Bladder attack.
arielbooks, Dec 20, 11:34am
Make a nettle tea to feed your garden
oh_hunnihunni, Dec 20, 1:50pm
If you get stung, rub the sting with a bruised dock leaf. There'll be a plant growing close to the nettle - they are companion species. Try it, it works.
oh_hunnihunni, Dec 20, 1:51pm
Wish I had some in the garden then, particularly last Monday. It'd be worth a try - nothing else works, lol!
suzieq1969, Dec 22, 5:54pm
This is all great info but what I need is tips on how to pull it out without getting stuck to bu*&ery by it
mark.52, Dec 22, 5:58pm
Wear gardening gloves.
woody89, Jul 2, 5:17am
Probably neoprene or leather & full length to cover arms. Also make sure legs are covered too as that stuff brushes everything! As someone above suggested, dock leaves at the ready. I hate the stuff. Only people who haven't had to deal with it seem to find value in it!