4 tips for using comfrey in the garden
Comfrey is a true wonder plant. Not only do bees love it; ours is buzzing with bees as soon as the flowers appear, but comfrey is every organic gardener’s best friend.
Comfrey is rich in nitrogen; needed for leaf growth, phosphorous; for healthy roots and good germination and potassium; for flowers and fruit. Therefore, it makes the perfect food for plants!
Here are five ways to use comfrey in your organic garden.
Compost activator
Comfrey leaves encourage your compost heap to heat up and contain lots of nitrgoen to kick start the composting process. Comfrey is every composter’s friend; just add some leaves to your compost pile on a regular basis.
Potatoes
It is said that if you line a potato trench with wilted comfrey leaves before planting, you’ll have a bumper and excellent tasting crop!
Liquid feed
Fill a tub with water, add a generous handful of comfrey leaves, cover and leave for a month. Hold your nose when you open it, but you’ll have one of the best liquid feeds you could wish for. Dilute with water and give your tomatoes, potatoes and runner beans a good feed.
Potting compost
Mix comfrey leaves with leaf mould to make an effective base for potting compost.
Mulch
Put a 2 inch thick layer of comfrey leaves around plants to slowly break down and release plant nutrients in the soil. This is particularly effective around tomatoes, and currant bushes.
How about you – do you have comfrey in your garden; how do you use it to benefit your garden?
I agree with you, comfrey is a great resource. As well as using it in the garden in the ways which you describe, I also chop up pieces of root and gently heat it in olive oil. I strain the oil and then use it as a night time rejuvenating moisturiser. Comfrey is very rich in allantoin a substance well known for its skin healing properties.
@Goo: Hi Goo, I love the sound of your recipe; I didn’t know about its properties on the skin. You learn something new every day; thank you for sharing 🙂