Nettles

Now as soon as you read the title of this I bet you all have thoughts on them, don't you? Love em or hate em, we'll all have urtica dioica somewhere in our gardens! 

My thoughts, I love them. In fact it was while I was dealing with them today that I thought of writing this. The main reason that I love them (now, no tutting please) is that I love pulling them out! I find it the most therapeutic thing ever. It really is a battle, pulling them at the roots without getting stung and then

marvelling at their root system. Aren't the creeping root systems of nettles just amazing? You start pulling and continue to do so and eventually you get it out of the soil but never all of it.

So, yes I love pulling them but I should point out that I only do so when they are in the way and I have a really thick patch behind my greenhouses at the moment which are preventing light and of course they are also trying to penetrate the structures. The last thing I want is this fabulous plant inside my greenhouses, that really would be a disaster. 

But when they aren't causing chaos at my greenhouse I have to say that this plant is brilliant (no, it isn't a weed). Did you know that nettles are a convenient source of nutrients for your crops, are fantastic at attracting beneficial bugs (and this is why I really do love them), and are an edible treat if you are extremely careful harvesting them?

So, people, LOVE the nettle and be delighted when you see them in your garden.