Stinging Nettle, Heirloom Perennial Herb Seeds – Sting Removed by Cooking, High in Protein & Iron, Soups, Tea & Smoothies

Stinging Nettle — The Heirloom Perennial Herb Whose Sting Disappears With Cooking, Packed With Protein, Iron & Minerals

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a herbaceous perennial that grows throughout North America, especially in moist, forested soil, and is one of the most nutritious culinary herbs you can grow. Once cooked, juiced, pureed, or dried, the sting is completely gone, leaving behind a deeply nutritious green that is exceptionally high in protein, iron, and other minerals and vitamins. Add to soups and smoothies, or dry for tea. For best flavor and nutrition, harvest only the top 4–5 inches of the plant. Stop harvesting once plants begin to flower — at this stage, leaves develop gritty particles called cystoliths that are best avoided. Grows 3–6 feet tall. 75 days.

Why Grow Stinging Nettle?

• Sting removed by cooking — cook, juice, puree, or dry to eliminate the sting entirely
• Exceptionally nutritious — high in protein, iron, and other minerals & vitamins
• Versatile culinary herb — soups, smoothies, dried tea, and more
• Native North American perennial — grows in moist, forested soil, returns year after year
• Cold stratification improves germination — chill seeds before sowing
• Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year

Growing Notes

Chill seeds in the refrigerator for 2–4 weeks before sowing to improve germination. Direct-sow outdoors in early spring, or start indoors. Surface sow or barely cover — seeds need light to germinate. Germination takes 10–14 days. Thin to 2 plants per square foot. Grows 3–6 feet tall in moist, fertile soil in full sun to part shade. Harvest only the top 4–5 inches for the best flavor. Stop harvesting when plants begin to flower — leaves develop cystoliths at this stage.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden's success.