This is how it works painlessly

It is better to cut off the entire stalk

Picking the individual stinging nettle leaves is less effective. It is better to cut off the entire plant at the bottom of the stem. But if you don't want to destroy the whole plant, detailed work is also possible.

First put on a pair of leather-covered gloves or thick ones Gardening gloves at. Cheap cloth gloves are not enough here. The stinging hairs of the nettle easily penetrate through this. Then take a pair of scissors or a knife, grab the plant with one hand and cut the stem with the other hand.

Pick without gloves

Nettles don't always burn. If you dare, you can try it without gloves and don't necessarily have to expect wheals afterwards. This is how it works: Pick the leaves from bottom to top.

Better to cover exposed skin areas

Attention: Be careful not to wear shorts / dresses or skirts! Sandals are also not unsuitable for picking nettles. You can also burn yourself on the exposed areas of skin if you pass the nettles.

Where and when can you pick parts of the nettle plant?

• Occurrence: In gardens, on the edges of forests, on meadows, on river banks
• Where shouldn't you pick?: On roads, on rubble heaps (nettles are contaminated there)
• Best Harvest period: May to June

Process the plant parts quickly after picking

Regardless of whether you have harvested whole stems, individual leaves, only the upper young shoot tips, inflorescences or seeds - after harvesting, you should quickly recycle or use parts of the plant. processed will. For example, you can dry them, freeze them, process them fresh into spinach or cook other recipes with them.