Comfrey is a kind of crops that does numerous behind-the-scenes work within the backyard. If you would like a gradual provide of leafy “inexperienced matter” to feed your soil, increase your compost, or make a home made liquid fertilizer, comfrey is a superb selection. Discover ways to develop it with the ideas on this information.
It may be robust to develop in scorching, dry summer time climates as a result of it actually likes constant moisture. However, with the best spot and somewhat further consideration throughout warmth, it could possibly nonetheless be price rising. And if it finally ends up being extra bother than it’s price, borage is a wonderful substitute that provides you comparable advantages with much less dedication.
Key Takeaways
Comfrey is a wonderful plant for including vitamins to soil and compost, however it requires constant moisture and care, particularly in scorching climates.
You need to use comfrey as a chop-and-drop mulch, a home made liquid feed, or a compost activator to reinforce your backyard’s productiveness.
Select true comfrey or a sterile cultivar like ‘Bocking 14’ to forestall self-seeding, and plant it in wealthy, well-draining soil.
Water deeply and incessantly, particularly when establishing comfrey, and use mulch to assist it thrive in scorching climate.
If comfrey struggles in your local weather, contemplate borage as a neater different that gives comparable advantages.
Why gardeners develop comfrey
Chop-and-drop mulch
That is the best cause to develop comfrey. Minimize a handful of leaves, lay them round your crops, and allow them to break down proper on the soil. It’s a straightforward solution to defend the soil floor and add natural matter with out hauling something in from outdoors the backyard.
Do-it-yourself liquid feed
Comfrey leaves may be soaked to make a powerful liquid fertilizer. Folks usually name it comfrey tea. It’s a typical solution to give heavy-feeding crops a lift.
Compost activator
Comfrey is a superb “inexperienced” compost materials. In case your pile has numerous “browns” (lifeless leaves, straw, shredded paper), including chopped comfrey helps convey issues again into stability and retains the pile shifting. Discover ways to compost on this information.
Pollinator assist
When you let it bloom, bees adore it. You get fertilizer leaves and pollinator flowers in the identical plant. Study extra crops to draw pollinators on this information.
Selecting the best comfrey
When you’re shopping for seed labeled true comfrey (Symphytum officinale), that’s the standard comfrey with fairly purple flowers. It might additionally set seed and reseed. It may be invasive in some areas.
Many gardeners who develop comfrey primarily for fertilizer select Russian comfrey or a sterile cultivar (usually offered beneath names like ‘Bocking 14’) as a result of it received’t self-seed.
One vital word: even sterile comfrey may be robust to take away as soon as it’s established as a result of it could possibly regrow from root items. So regardless of which sort you develop, choose the situation rigorously.
The place to plant comfrey
Comfrey does finest in wealthy, moist soil that drains effectively.
rule of thumb:
In gentle climates, full solar is normally superb when you water commonly.
In scorching summer time climates, give it morning solar and afternoon shade or dappled shade.
Comfrey is a superb plant to tuck close to fruit timber or your compost space.
Undecided the place to plant comfrey? Develop it in a big pot for a season. You may see the way it handles your warmth and determine the place it belongs later.
When to Plant Comfrey
In most climates, plant comfrey through the cooler elements of the yr so it has time to ascertain roots earlier than excessive climate. For a lot of gardeners, meaning early spring (as quickly because the soil may be labored) or fall (about 4–8 weeks earlier than your first onerous frost).
Low Desert Arizona: Plant comfrey seeds or transplants outdoor from October by way of January. If ranging from seed, chilly stratify first (see instructions beneath), then sow outdoors throughout this cool-season window and preserve the soil evenly moist whereas seeds germinate.
Learn how to begin comfrey
Begin from seed (chilly stratification)
Comfrey seed usually germinates higher after a chilly, moist relaxation interval.
Simple fridge technique (30 days):
Moisten potting soil so it appears like a wrung-out sponge.
Combine the seeds into the damp soil.
Seal the soil and seeds in a plastic bag or glass jar.
Refrigerate for 30 days.
After 30 days, sow in pots or outdoors in cool soil and preserve evenly moist.
Germination may be sluggish, so be affected person. Set a reminder. It’s simple to overlook that the soil is within the fridge.
Begin from roots (sooner and simpler)
In case your fundamental purpose is fertilizer leaves, ranging from a root reducing or division is normally faster than seed if yow will discover them.
Comfrey care
Watering
Water deeply so moisture reaches the basis zone.
Don’t let it keep bone dry, significantly throughout warmth.
Mulch
Use 2 to 4 inches of mulch across the plant.
Hold mulch pulled again somewhat from the crown.
Harvesting for fertilizer or reducing again
As soon as established, comfrey handles common reducing effectively.
Minimize outer leaves close to the bottom.
Don’t take away greater than half of the plant.
3 methods to make use of comfrey leaves as fertilizer
1) Chop-and-drop mulch
Minimize leaves and lay them round crops. Chop them up if you would like them to interrupt down sooner. This works particularly effectively round heavy feeders and fruit timber.
2) Comfrey Tea (Do-it-yourself Liquid Fertilizer)
Comfrey tea is a straightforward solution to flip a bucket of comfrey leaves right into a liquid feed you’ll be able to pour on the base of crops. It’s sturdy, so begin diluted and use it as a complement, not the one fertilizer.
Easy bucket technique (water-based)
Fill a bucket ½ to ¾ full with comfrey leaves (chop if you would like sooner breakdown).
Add water to cowl the leaves (weigh them down in the event that they float).
Cowl loosely and let it steep 2–4 weeks. You need to use it after 10–14 days for a weaker batch.
Pressure if you would like, then compost the leftover leaf sludge.
Learn how to dilute
Normal dilution: 1:10 (1 half tea to 10 elements water)
If it’s very darkish/sturdy: 1:20
For seedlings or delicate crops: 1:20–1:30
How usually to make use of it
In-ground greens: each 1–2 weeks throughout lively progress
Containers: each 2–4 weeks (go lighter to keep away from buildup)
Tip: Apply as a soil drench, not a foliar spray, and keep away from feeding crops which might be at the moment heat-stressed. Truthful warning: it could possibly odor terrible. Hold the bucket someplace you received’t discover it.
3) Compost activator
Add comfrey leaves to your compost pile to assist stability out dry “brown” supplies.
Rising comfrey in scorching summer time climates
In scorching summer time climates, give it morning solar and afternoon shade, preserve a thick layer of mulch over the soil, and water deeply so moisture reaches the basis zone. It additionally helps to plant it away from mirrored warmth, like block partitions, gravel, or pavement, which may bake the leaves and soil.
If comfrey is struggling you’ll see scorched leaf edges, wilting that doesn’t bounce again in a single day, or sluggish progress with smaller, harder leaves.
You may add extra shade through the hottest a part of the day, enhance the mulch, and deal with watering deeper as a substitute of simply watering extra usually. If it’s in a container, shifting the pot to a cooler spot could make a distinction.
Borage is an easy-to-grow substitute that may give you an analogous payoff. It grows rapidly, makes loads of leafy progress you should use for mulch or compost, and the flowers are a magnet for bees. Consider borage as a mild-season “fertility plant” you’ll be able to depend on when summers are too robust for comfrey. Discover ways to develop borage on this information.
Security word about medicinal use
If you wish to use comfrey internally please analysis rigorously and examine together with your physician. For gardeners comfrey is finest used for soil and feeding functions.
FAQ
It may be persistent. Some sorts self-seed, and lots of can regrow from root items when you dig round them. Choose the spot rigorously.
Sterile sorts don’t self-seed, which helps. Even so, keep away from disturbing the roots.
Sure. Use a big pot, preserve it evenly moist, and mulch the floor.
It might take weeks. Chilly, moist stratification helps.
As soon as established, normally a number of instances per yr. Regrowth relies on water and warmth.
Generally, if it has shade, mulch, and constant deep watering. If it struggles yearly, use borage as a substitute.
