What to do with nettles?

Not sure if this query really belongs in Edible Gardening, but....
there are a whole load of nettles in my garden right now, and I have a recipe for Nettle Soup, but - is this the right time of year, or should I pick them in the Spring if I want to make soup out of them?

 

Spring nettlesare more sweet and tender. If the plants have been cut during summer, so that they keep producing fresh green growth they can be used all summer and autumn though. The very dark nettles that have gone to seed are rather bitter though,and not very nice.
If you want to have nettles for cooking all the time it is really a good idea to keep picking the tips so you always have some fresh stuff growing

I mostly make nettle pie.

 

As Ivory says, you need the young, tender growth for cooking. The older growth can be soaked in a butt of water for a couple of days and used as a plant feed.:thumb:

 

Thanks...I'll put them in the compost bin, then!

 

Hi Leonora,


Before you chuck them, they can still be used, as a homemade hair rinse,

Put all the nettles in a large saucepan along with rind off lemons, limes or oranges ( any citrus fruit), and simmer gently for about 2 hrs. Allow to cool, pass through a fine colander and you can either add a couple of cupfuls to your bath, or pour a mix of a cupful and two of water over your hair after conditioning to add shine-leave it for a couple of minutes then be sure to rinse off with cold water-you don`t want bits of lemon peel in your hair.

It smells quite nice, and is particularly good to use when you are about 3/4 wks into a new colouring to pep up the shine.

(Sorry I keep editing this post-a good search on google for homemade recipes can reveal a wealth of uses-good news for those of us on a tighter than usual budget these days)