PRO

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)has long been used in the garden mainly for it's use as an organic fertiliser. The properties of this "wonder plant" are well known to the older generation of gardeners and growers as well as those interested in organic growing. However it's popularity has decreased over the years with main stream gardening as synthetic oil based fertilisers became the norm and were relatively cheap to produce and easy to apply. With the ever increasing price of oil, it's finite availability and the harm it is doing to both the local and world environment it must be about time that comfrey is rediscovered by the gardening community as a valuable source of nutrients and food for pollinators.


It has long been the case that buying synthetic fertiliser was the least labour intensive and cheapest way to provide nutrients in the growing environment. I feel the tide is changing though and more people should be investing the time needed to produce their own fertiliser which is both cost effective and kind to the environment. Yes there is work involved with making fertiliser from comfrey but this can be offset against the high and forever increasing costs of the synthetic alternative, even when you attach a cost to your time.

Of course you will need room for the plants to grow in your garden but they are extremely adaptable and will grow well in conditions which are far from favorable to the majority of other garden plants. They enjoy damp, fertile locations and will effectively "mine" lost nutrients which have been leached deep into the soil around compost and manure heaps. This is because of their deep rooting systems which can go down several feet. It is advisable however to grow the bocking 14 variety which does not self seed unless you want the plant popping up in unwanted places. Also the plants can be rather hard to get rid of once established as the roots go so deep and even the smallest piece left in the soil can regrow. For this reason it is best to think with a long term view when deciding where to plant.

Once the plants have established for at least a year and are growing strongly you can start to harvest the leaves. This should be done before flowering occurs and upto three cuts can be achieved in a year. Harvesting after september is not advised however as the plant needs a chance to recover before it goes in to it's winter dormancy. It is good practice to try and replace nutrients which are extracted through the constant harvesting as over time the plants will decrease in vigour. You may be thinking what is the point of using valuable fertiliser in order to make another form of fertiliser ? Well the answer to this is that comfrey is an almost indestructible plant which will tolerate certain forms of fertilisation that other plants just could not cope with for example fresh urine and manure, copious amounts of wood ash (good for people who have woodburners) and any home made compost that you would not want to use anywhere else.

Harvest the plants using a method you feel to be the most appropriate according to the time and tools that are available and the amount of plants to be cut. Put these cuttings in a suitable container which is large enough and preferably has a tap or similar device at the bottom, out of which the resultant black liquid can flow into a storage vessel. The process will take a week or two and you should leave it until no more liquid is coming out. Empty the residue on to your compost heap and decide how and where you are going to use the nutrient rich black liquid which has been collected.

It is not a good idea to use this concentrated liquid fertiliser neat as it will damage the plants it is applied to. Dilute at one part concentrate to between ten and twenty parts rain water. If applying to ornamental plants, shrubs and trees this can be done as a soil drench using a watering can with the rose taken off. Not many people do this but comfrey fertiliser can be used to feed your lawn. On a small lawn this can be done effectively using a watering can with rose but on large areas you are going to require a knapsack sprayer. The important thing to remember when doing this is that the diluted solution must be strained first in order that the watering can rose or sprayer filters do not become blocked. Plants can use the fertiliser as a fast acting foliar feed but i much prefer to apply as much water as possible during the process so the soil is drenched also.

There are other uses for comfrey apart from making liquid fertiliser such as adding it to the compost heap as an accelerator, mixing with leaves to make enriched leaf mould or burying in trenches beneath food crops and new plantings. Leave one or two plants to flower every year if you have enough of them and you will soon have bees and other pollinators flocking to your garden.

It is about time that Comfrey made a large scale return to mainstream gardening instead of being a secret of organic gardeners and allotment holders. Do your bit and help raise awareness of this forgotten "wonder plant". At Eco Garden Maintenance we make a point of promoting it's use to all our customers even if it is only as an addition to the perennial border or around compost heaps to soak up the lost nutrients leached deep in the soil.

www.ecogardenmaintenance.co.uk

Eco Garden Maintenance organic gardening

Eco Garden Maintenance organic lawn care

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • PRO

    The comfrey plants are a bit sluggish in getting going this year due to the cold weather. Can't wait for the lovely fresh green foliage to start emerging.

    Eco Garden Maintenance

  • I am trying to make Comfrey root ointment, following the method recommended on You Tube by a Hebden Bridge Earth Mother type ( If you have been to Hebden Bridge in last 30 years you will know what I mean ). Cooked for 3 hours in a double boiler and the root seems the same as when I started...virtually inert it seems. The olive Oil, with which I will make the ointment tastes like...Olive Oil, with maybe a touch of mushroom flavour.

    I don't want to progress to the next stage, unless I have some confidence that the wonders of Comfrey will have been transferred.. has anybody any experience of making an ointment?

  • PRO

    I have not tried to make an ointment so can't help you there, sorry. Good luck with it and let us know how you get on.

This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Landscape Juice replied to Gary MCKINSTRY's discussion New to my business
"Hi Gary, would you like to add a few more notes about your experience of using the machines for others on the network?
I wonder what types of grass you've used them on, long, short, wet, dry? Also what are the noise levels like and any issues when…"
3 hours ago
Pete Henchey replied to T &T gardening services ltd's discussion Mulching Mowers
"Ah ok thanks for the advice"
yesterday
Si Al updated their profile
yesterday
Billybop replied to Adam Woods's discussion Coming to a large garden near you!!
"yes these robots are most welcome to take any of my lawn jobs"
yesterday
David Benson replied to Adam Woods's discussion Coming to a large garden near you!!
"very good but there will still be a need for the strimmer and lawn edgers "
yesterday
Adam Woods posted a discussion
Yesterday I went to a client to see this - there are two of them, and have been sold to keep their 2 acres of lawn comprising of 3 massive lawns, with hills,scattered trees and shrubs, together with a traditional square lawn near.  the house. TO cut…
Wednesday
Graham Taylor replied to Ag's discussion PA1/6 Applying Bacteria based Moss killers for Lawns
"Just do it................ commonsense says its ok even if mindless bureaucracy suggests not. .  If we've got it wrong, whoever is going to report you +  its not as though you'll be going to prison! "
Tuesday
Vicky Braddock and Cameron Price joined Landscape Juice Network
Tuesday
Cameron Price updated their profile
Tuesday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
In the world of football, the quality of the playing surface can make a significant difference in the game's outcome and the overall experience for players and spectators alike.While top-tier stadiums often boast pristine pitches, grassroots clubs…
Tuesday
Liam Healy posted a discussion
**Posted with admin (Henry’s) permission - Thank you, Henry.** I am selling a custom chipper and trailer set-up. Ideal for small/one person landscaping/gardening. The narrow access means it can pass through most side/garden gates and you can chip…
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to T &T gardening services ltd's discussion Mulching Mowers
"We tried the grin but massively overpriced, the mulching performance no better than our 537HRX HY'S, not tried the Etesia but the HRX gives us the ability to collect when we need to without messing about with mulch plugs or swapping blades"
Tuesday
Pete Henchey replied to T &T gardening services ltd's discussion Mulching Mowers
"Thanks Peter, so do you have experience with the Etesia and Grin mulching machines?"
Tuesday
Gary R replied to Ag's discussion PA1/6 Applying Bacteria based Moss killers for Lawns
"I'd say no. Unless it's a herbacide or pestercide I don't think you'd need a PA1 / PA6"
Monday
Billybop replied to Andrew Betteridge's discussion Ego hedgecutter recall in Australia
"Cheers for the heads up Andrew, am a big fan of some of the Ego kit, but even without the safety issue the performance of that design of hedge trimmer is totally underwhelming anyhow"
Monday
Andrew Betteridge posted a discussion
Some Ego hedgecutters have been recalled in Australia due to starting unexpectedly. https://7news.com.au/news/ego-power-cordless-brushless-hedge-trimme...
Monday
More…