Stinging nettles are very popular to collect and then processed. The he althy plant is particularly diverse and useful. However, when harvesting, care should be taken not to mix up female and male nettles. After all, these differ in many ways.
How do you distinguish male from female nettles?
Male and female nettlesdiffer in their appearance Female plant pollen is small and has white bristles. Male nettle pollen is yellow or reddish-green. They are significantly larger than the female pollen. The seeds also differ.
Do male and female nettle seeds differ?
If you want to collect nettle seeds, you should choose thefemale varieties. These have far more content than male seeds. They can be recognized by their green color and their drooping shape. After all, the males are just spores that are supposed to fertilize the females. They are white and stand out from the plant. The female varieties are therefore much more suitable for planting fresh nettle seeds.
Tip
Harvest time of female and male nettle
The harvest time for male and female nettles takes place at the same time. Young shoots are usually collected in April or May. However, adult nettles can be found until the end of June. The seeds of the plant can be found by the end of October. However, you should definitely wear thick gardening gloves when harvesting the plant.
