Can you grow nettles in pots?

[nigel_b]

Crikey I seem to spend half my life getting out nettle roots so it seems counter intuitive to plant them, although I did read the post and I do understand why. I'd definately put them in some pots in the ground.

[Meta menardi]

Nettles do respond to (I think) phosphates. We used to live just over the river from Viriconium, and there were clumps of nettles alongside the road to the ford. A very ill-remembered rhyme went something along the lines of ".......Noxious weed,
That flourishes where the Romans Peed"

Mind full of dust, maybe there is a diamond in there somewhere.

[Milly911]

Hi. I tried growing nettles in a pot last year for the same reason but it didn't survive, might try a large grow bag this year.

[slimrbp]

So based on Jim's and Meta Menardi's input as long as we now do our business in the garden we should be ok

I think I may try a grow bag and a pot in the ground and report back!

[artdemole]

Are you using seed or runners from nettles.

[bigdave60dog]

Better still chop the bottom 40cm off an old dustbin and bury it in the place where you want nettles and plant nettles -seeds or plants - in it. They will thrive with good compost, don`t do well in acid conditions so keep it limed. They like rich organic soil- so plenty of sheepmuck or similar.
Gardeners grow mint in containers like that. An old tin bath is just as good.
Against a South facing wall for Commas. in the open for Small Tortoiseshells, Between bushes for Peacocks. Red admirals are few and far between and seem to be anywhere.
Happy Gardening,
Dave

[slimrbp]

Thanks again everyone, I will be attempting to grow from seed.

Thanks for the tips on location Dave, they will be going in a corner of the garden that is near some bushes and a fence that get's sunlight pretty much all day in the spring/summer. So hopefully at least one species will be happy
I will also be trying to grow some Nasturtiums and Garlic Mustard for the whites.

[animartco]

Originally Posted by slimrbp

Starnge question I guess but does anyone know if you can grow nettles in pots?

I want to do some planting for butterflies this year so along with various nectar plants I was thinking of growing a patch of common nettles as they are a larval plant of a couple of species that visit the garden.
My only concern is that they will go mental so I was considering pots to try and keep them in check or are they fairly easy to keep under control?

growing them in pots wouldn't help as the roots would go through the bottoms of the pots and colonise outwards. A clump of nettles is safe if it is not near tree roots or any other barrier to digging. A clump of a couple of square yards can be lifted if necessary by loosening all round and then pulling the lot up in one go. Any small rootlets are very obvious because they're bright yellow. Also of course you mustn't let them seed. If you want them for butterflies cut the tops off frequently.