Since my last post on harvesting nettle seeds I’ve had a couple of emails asking me for more specific details about how and when to harvest. I remember that when I first started to collect herbs and make my own remedies it would always annoy me when writers skimmed the surface of the topics they were discussing, making assumptions that their readers already knew how to make this or that. So, in the spirit of making things clearer, I thought I’d post a few more photos to show those of you who’d like a bit more info exactly what nettles look like at different times of the year, how the seed should look when you pick it and how it looks when it’s dried. I hope that clears up any confusion and makes it easier to get out and enjoy your harvest.
Nettles come up in Spring at which time you can harvest them for soups, to eat raw, to add to juices, vinegars, teas or enjoy as a steamed or cooked green.
Later, as summer starts to warm up, the nettles begin to flower at which time they are no longer good for eating. Nettles in full sun will flower before those in the shade and will also produce seeds earlier.
The flowers begin to turn to seeds…
But aren’t ready to harvest until they look like this.
Collect the green seeds rather than the brown or black.
After hanging the stems to allow the insects to escape, cut off the small strands of seeds and allow to air dry or use a dehydrator like this one.
When dry, take small handfuls of the seeds and rub through a sieve.
The seeds will come away and you’ll be left with the small grey-green stands like these.
Pop your dried seeds into a jar, store somewhere cool and away from bright light and enjoy sprinkled on food.
Hope that was helpful!
Thank you so much. This is such a gorgeous site and so heart opening! Thanks so much for the fabulous lesson on nettle seed gathering, the lovely pics of fellow tree huggers and fellow trees, and beautiful Dr Bach quote. inspiring. You are lovely! :0)))) i feel the world is a better place for your having created this site, or rather the realities of this being available for me to know froma site although so far away now in miles. :0)
Namaste,
Genevieve
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Thank you Genevieve, it makes writing this site so worthwhile to read a comment like this 🙂
Blessings to you x
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I also get annoyed when writers skim the surface! I know so much more than I did five minutes ago. Thank you thank you thank you! :*
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Aw shucks. I harvested mine way to early! They were at the “ripening into seeds” stage. They still look like seeds though. Can I still use them?
I’m glad that I have a ton more nettle on the farm so I can harvest them later, at the proper time.
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They should be fine, I personally wait till they are at the green seed stage to use them but I have read a couple of American herbalists saying that they use them more at the ripening stage.
You are in a great position now because you can harvest both types and compare them. See how they feel in your body, how the medicines you make differ etc., and then see which you prefer. I feel the green seeds have more nutrients in them myself but you might feel different.
Let me know anyway, it is always interesting to hear what people’s experience is!
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I threw them out before I saw your respone. Well that was a whole waste! I’m glad that I have more nettle. I did harvest some at the green stage now. Haven’t really tried them yet but now I know more about it for next year. And I still have some to try as I need. Next time I’ll know not to get rid of them while throwing a fit about my lousy harvest timing 🙂
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Very useful article.Keep up the good work.
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gratitude for your info. we just harvested a lot of nettle seed and are now dehydrating them in our NESCO dehydrator. I set the timer so i can report back how long it takes with this process…. anyone tyr to grow baby nettles this time of year from seed in the green house..think ill try it…mabe have some tender greens before summer is over.
HB in wonderland
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Hi Glad I found you. I was wondering about harvesting leaves now, 8/18 in southern illinois, to make tinctures. I want to use it for psoriasis. The plants are starting into the seeding stage, but still plenty of folliage. Think I’ll make some tincture out of both stages of the seeds, also. Peace Rene’
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Best not to use the leaves on the plants that have gone to seed but if there is a place where they have been cut back you can use the fresh re-growth at any point before flowering. You probably still have time to cut some back and harvest the fresh growth if not, depending on when your winter starts there. We have just been picking seeds here over the last few days too.
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Heartful sharing of knowledge, thankyou! I ate abundance of nettles during pregnancy intuitively, to later find they are rich in folic acid and iron. I’v loved using them though only this year am I progressing to drying seeds. this is so helpful. I’m going to see how they migh help early teens with hormones. Interested to hear anyones experiences. Enjoy this wonderful time of year.
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How interesting, yes nettles are something of a pregnancy super food! Nettle herb can be useful for hormonal issues and the root too depending on what you are trying to achieve.
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Reblogged this on Andrea Cullen and commented:
And more….. we have nettles in abundance as you know from my posts on nettle soup… fabulous blog. Enjoy x
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I have my harvested seeds and have sieved them. However there are still very tiny bits of strand mixed in with the seeds.. Can I leave these bits? If not how can I remove them. I tried o gently blow them off but only succeeded in almost loosing a portion of seeds !!
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If they are very tiny I wouldn’t worry about them. If they bother you you could try a finer mesh sieve which should do the trick.
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Wow, nettles are so amazing and just keep giving. So much medicine and so abundantly distributed. Appreciate the patient detail of this post. Thanks and blessings.
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Why is it not recommended to harvest the seeds once they go black? Thanks!
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Once they go black they are past their best and the oils will not be so fresh.
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Ciao Lucinda. I really would like to know how you use the stinging nettle seeds because it’s so difficult to find news about it in Italian. I like harvesting weeds to cook by myself and in Italy seeds are supposed to be dangerous! I can’t find anything that say use it cooked, dry or fresh. I found only a Swiss recipy that show how touse them cooked a little bit to add to salads. Thanks a lot for your answer and sorry for my English! My web page is under costruction…
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Hi Stefania,
I have written more about using nettle seed here:
I hope that answers some of your questions. Let me know if you have any more.
Do people say the seeds of stinging nettle are dangerous? Here they are used both as food and as medicine.
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Hi, it’s great to have clear information, thanks! I’ve just harvested a bunch. looking lovely. Do you know if they /the seeds, keep their potency for more than a year, or how long. I have some from last year too, wondering if they still as effective. Also, I’ve heard they were good for hormonal balance. thinking of giving them to a teenager. Is this the effect on the adrenals having a balancing effect throughout the endocrine system?
Thanks if you have time to reply. Wishing you well!
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Hi Karen,
As long as they are stored well, away from heat, dampness or bright light, they should last happily for a year. You can usually tell when things start to lose their vibrancy by the colour starting to grey and the taste fading.
They certainly will help balance the hormones through the effect on the adrenal glands as the endocrine system is very connected and depleted adrenals can stress the rest of the system. It would depend on what the condition is and the person’s individual case as to whether it would be one of my first choices though.
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Can you dry nettles and use them for nettle infusion after they have gone to seed since you wouldn’t be consuming the leaves?
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Hi Renee,
The usual advice is not to use the leaf after flowering but you can normally find some fresh green growth from nettles that have been cut down which is fine to use.
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Your site is lovely. I wonder, can you tell me,
When is the best time of year to harvest nettle seeds please. I’m interested in learning more.
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Anytime from the end of July to around now depending on the site and where you live. I am in the South of the UK and usually get the best harvests in September.
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Thanks for showing the seasons and the sieving, it gave me the impetus to get out there and gather this wonder-herb.
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I hope you’re still responding to comments 🙂 Are the instructions here appropriate if I want to save seeds for for planting next season? (i.e. sometimes plant seeds are saved for eating and sometimes they are saved for planting; and sometimes the method for each is different). One plant came up near my house and I’d like to save some seeds to sow in my yard!
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Hi Ron, yes I am but very intermittently as you see! Apologies and I hope I’m not too late for the nettle seeds in your area. You can use this method for planting too. Just harvest and dry the seeds and store as you normally would, in a dry place etc. One advantage to nettle is that it is pretty hardy! 🙂
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So glad to have found your site.I finally got a nice growth of nettles, but did not get to pick them I time before flowering.😟 Can I still use the leaves for external use, like bath water ? It would be a shame to let them all go to waste. I could cut the stems and wait for regrowth- but then I’d loose the chance of gathering the apparently potent flowers, which are not quite ready to pick. If I wait until they are ready, it may be too late to cut the stalks for regrowth! HELP 😫
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Hi there, whereabouts are you? Here the seeds are just ripening so you could potentially get in a seed harvest then cut back and gather some regrowth before winter.
Or just cut back half the patch and you’ll have both!
The flowering nettle would be fine to use externally though if that’s what you wanted. Nettle makes a nice hair rinse.
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Question, I’m in Michigan. Our nettle is itchy! So if I’m harvesting seed, is that aslo gonna itch? Or our the ones I have not usable?
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Your writings and pictures are so helpful, thank you for sharing. What proof alcohol do you find best to tincture the seeds?
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The small grey green strands; can be used for a tea?
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For some of the more unfortunate who have gout. Leaves dried or fresh about 2 hands full just enough boiling water on them, leave solution till cool enough for foot and then soak for about 20 mins helps relieve pain and swelling
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I’ve been trying to find photos of nettles in flower and then in seeds to get a better knowledge as I’m still learning. Your photos have really helped me, so thank you.
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Thanks for the info. I’ll try it out this summer. kind regards, Paul
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[…] Nettle Seeds- Back to Basics […]
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Hi Brilliant site, quick question. I’ve done everything but noticed that my seeds are moving, teeny tiny somethings in my store. So tiny I cannot see them, but remind me of when I had flour weevils. Is there any way I can get rid of them?
Thanks Lisa
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Hi Lisa. Did you hang the nettles or leave them out for a few hours first to let the insects escape? Nettle is so full of life at this time of year it’s a necessary step. If you did that and they are still moving I guess you could try spreading them out on paper and see if that helps. If not then I’m not sure if there’s much else you can do. I’ll have a think!
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Hello, thank you for this helpful information. Would you please explain why the leaves are not good to use internally when the plant is flowering? I don’t want to waste any of this lovely plant after cutting off the seed heads. Will the nettle patch regrow next year if I cut off the seeds? Should I leave some stalks for re-seeding?
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Yes as long as the roots are intact it will regrow but it’s good to leave a few stalks to spread seeds too.
As the plant ages and flowers it develops small particles called cystoliths which can irritate the kidneys which is why it’s advisable only to eat the nettle leaves pre-flowering. Hope that’s helpful!
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Great little post, thankyou
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