Stinging Nettle Culture and Harvest

I am possibly interested in purchasing stinging nettle plants from

your company. My intent is to use them as a

form of pest control in my raised garden beds. If I purchase plants

from you:

1. How long will it be before I can harvest leaves?

About a month

2. What type of growing environment do they prefer and thrive in?

Rich moist soil with lots of organic matter content, such as compost heaps! Full sun (if moist enough) to high shade (tall deciduous trees with no lower branches) suits them just fine.

3. If planted in rows, what is the preferred separation distance

plant-to-plant?
One foot (30cm) spacing is great. They will spread by underground runners and soon fill any really fertile area. They love well-rotted manure.

4. For just personal use both in the garden as pest control and

possibly cooking some leaves on occasion, what plant

quantity would you expect would support those activities?

If you are willing to wait for a year or two, then even one plant would be enough in sufficiently ideal soil. To harvest some the first year, try six plants.