Nettles In The Vegetable Patch

[Jamjar74]

We have been inundated with nettles but they seem to have got worse over the past couple of years. Last year we tried the Resolva "Extra Strength" which worked initially but now they are back with a vengeance with lots about 12 inches tall. Can anyone recommend a weed killer that will get rid once and for all. We have also dug them out by hand but as soon as you turn your back there they are again. Any help much appreciated.

[Buenchico]

Here's what the RHS has to say about the matter:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=714

Alternatively . . .
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2137636/nettle-soup

;-)

[kvalidir]

Rent a goat :) x

[woofgang]

I got rid of mine in the garden with glyphosate. There are two things you need to do. The first is not to let them seed. The second is to treat them once thoroughly and then leave them alone. Glyphosate takes time to affect the whole plant and if you cut them down or dig them up too soon then you risk leaving roots un affected and they will shoot. I left mine a whole year to die properly and only removed them the following late spring. I did get a few weak shoots which I treated in the same way and now the patch is gone.

[diddlydo]

Dig, dig, dig is the answer - much better than glyphosate or any other nasty chemical.

[woofgang]

would love to but my back says no no no.

[diddlydo]

Cover the affected patch with black plastic as an alternative.

[woofgang]

tried that, the nettles shoved their way up pale like blanched chicory.

[Maydup]

Cover the ground with anything you have such as cardboard, plastic,old carpet, blankets, mulch. Leave it all there as long as you can to stop the nettles growing again in the spring.

[Tilly2]

Bees like nettles.

[rowanwitch]

Treat first growth with glyphosate, after three months cut back to ground level and great any regrowth. But leave a small patch for caterpillars and for cropping either for soup, tea or for enriching your compost.

[pastafreak]

Eat them!

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/stinging-nettle

[diddlydo]

It's about time that glyphosate was banned.

[TonyV]

Hate using chemicals might kill your weeds and any good things in soil basically streraling it. Just dig them out making sure you get all the bits of roots out. Digging will also do soil some good and you can incorporate some fertility or grit depending on your soil type.

If you go to RHS website everything is there

[TonyV]

Makes nice tea and soup Pasta

[CluckyChick]

Loosen the soil around the roots with a garden fork, get some thick gardening gloves on (and long sleeves!) and pull the nettles up firmly from the base. There's hardly any sting at the base and none in the roots or the horizontal runners that run between the plants just below the surface. It's these runners you need to get out to stop them coming back. Don't risk using chemicals near your veggies. It will work as long as you remain vigilant for missed bits regrowing. Failing that, I can give you a lovely nettle soup recipe!

[pond50]

Very good for butterflies

[Khandro]

Nettles only grow in good rich soil, don't put chemicals on it, get some good long gloves and pull 'em out.

[tonyav]

This worked for me many years ago, we bought our first house and the garden ( 1/3 of an acre ) was totally overgrown mainly with nettles. I got a petrol strimmer and strimmed the lot down to the ground and then just kept mowing it regularly. The grass grew but the nettles never came back !. However it wasn't a vegetable patch.

[ladybirder]

Nettles are so important for our butterflies and lots of insects. Can't you live with them, or a few of them?https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2016/05/butterflies-need-nettles/

[diddlydo]

Gratifying to see that others tacitly agree with my "no chemicals" approach.