Stinging Nettle Seeds (Urtica Dioica) By Sementi Dotto

Rich in Iron and minerals

Stingin Nettle, most notably recognised, as its name suggests, for inflicting its painful sting when brushed by one’s bare skin, this wild herb is one of the most useful plants we have. 
Urtica dioica is a very valuable plant on account of its rich nutritional content, it has been used for food and medicine, for fibre and as a dye by many traditional cultures for hundreds of years. 
Medicinally, it is used to treat and exhaustive list of aliments from allergies to arthritis, muscle and joint pain. Many herbalists are of the opinion that eating nettles daily is more strengthening than many green supplements that we buy in pills and packets and not naturally found in our local outdoor herbal larder. Juicing the leaves is a popular form of tonic and may even be applied to cuts to reduce bleeding. In spring, the nettle is one of the first green plants to grow in abundance during the barren months from January to April. It is always the herb which provides the first cup of truly fresh herb tea. The young leaves of Stinging nettle are very nutritious and easily digestible with high levels of vitamins and minerals. Cooked or thoroughly dried leaves are safe to eat as these processes neutralises the sting. Treated as a vegetable, they can be steamed and eaten like spinach or cooked in soups, stews, pesto or gnocchi. They are a great addition to omelettes, and even a topping to pizza. The leaves can be dried for winter use and the seeds can be utilised as a crunchy topping or mixed with yoghurt.
Nettles are most useful to the organic gardener, the leaves and stems can be used to make nitrogen-rich liquid feed for your plants. They are also useful when added to compost heaps, acting as a natural compost activator to speed up the decomposition process. 

Officinal properties

Stinging Nettle has been used for centuries to treat allergy symptoms, particularly hayfever which is the most common allergy problem. It contains biologically active compounds that reduce inflammation.
It can be used on a regular basis and has an impressive number of other benefits most notably as a treatment for prostate enlargement. The root is recommended as a diuretic, for relief of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and other prostate problems, and as a natural remedy to treat or prevent baldness
An infusion of the plant is very valuable in stemming internal bleeding. It is also used to treat anaemia, excessive menstruation, haemorrhoids, arthritis, rheumatism and skin complaints, especially eczema. Externally, the plant is used to treat skin complaints, arthritic pain, gout, sciatica, neuralgia, haemorrhoids and hair problems.

Cultivation and Growing Information

Prefers a soil rich in phosphates and nitrogen. Plants must be grown in a deep rich soil if good quality fibre is required. Nettles are one of the most undervalued of economic plants. They have a wide range of uses, for food, medicines, fibres etc and are also a very important plant for wildlife. There are at least 30 species of insects that feed on it and the caterpillars of several Lepidoptera species are dependent upon it for food. Especially when growing in rich soils, the plant can spread vigorously and is very difficult to eradicate. It is said that cutting the plant down three times a year for three years will kill it. It is a good companion plant to grow in the orchard and amongst soft fruit. So long as it is not allowed to totally over-run the plants, it seems to improve the health of soft fruit that grows nearby and also to protect the fruit from birds, but it makes harvesting very difficult.  

Seeding: February-March and September

Blooming: May-November

Guaranteed quality:  Sementi Dotto seeds

Sementi Dotto was founded in 1963 as a family-run farm specialized in the field of vegetable seeds and gardening products. SEMENTI DOTTO is present in the hobby sector with a wide range of products for gardening care and with a complete line of products for small pets. In addition, since Sementi Dotto is always heedful to changing market conditions and environmental sensitivity, with “L’Orto Biologico” line it also offers a wide range of vegetable seeds and seeds for sprouts obtained exclusively from organic farming which include the use of agricultural adjuvants not harmful to the environment.

The primary objective of the company is to achieve total quality, entering the market with high-grade products, advanced packaging, cutting-edge logistics services, promotional activities, careful and qualified customer service, efficient internal processes, maintaining the balance of a large organization without sacrificing the traditional quality values for which it is famous.

Net weight sachet: 0.5gr