How to Harvest Stinging Nettle Leaves

Nettle leaves are best harvested while they're still young and before the plant starts flowering. Put on your gloves, and looking for tender young leaves. Harvest the nettles by cutting off only the upper leaves, so you don't get stung.

I recommend to harvest nettles in the springtime. There are a couple reasons for this:

The plant still has nearly the full season to regrow and produce seeds.

The leaves are darker, more tender, and especially nutrient rich at this time of year.

The plants become taller and leggier as the summer progresses.