Comfrey

[Greenfingers420UK]

my comfrey patch has gone a tad well this year so I'm going to be collecting it for use in my pots, I'm thinking of drying it so stores better for whenever I need it for teas or top dressings.
any here use it for your ladies?

 

[island_organics]

my comfrey patch has gone a tad well this year so I'm going to be collecting it for use in my pots, I'm thinking of drying it so stores better for whenever I need it for teas or top dressings.
any here use it for your ladies?

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I just took the first cut of my comfrey for this year which i’ve dried for mulching my pots. Awesome stuff, and grows back really fast. I need to dig this one up at the end of the year and make more plants out of it.

 

[Greenfingers420UK]

nice thanks, do you just cut it right back or do you leave a few inches of stem/leaf ?

 

[island_organics]

nice thanks, do you just cut it right back or do you leave a few inches of stem/leaf ?

I leave a few inches of stem but you can level it completely and it’ll still grow back strong. It’s a very difficult plant to kill.

 

[Rgd]

It’s a very difficult plant to kill.

I bought some from California 45 years ago...its still everywhere

cut small root in100 pieces get 100 plants.. be careful

 

[island_organics]

I bought some from California 45 years ago.lits still everywhere

cut small root in100 pieces get 100 plants.. be careful

Yeah man i know. I had about six on the go but most died off. They are in very rocky, sandy clay and i probably let them get a little dry which eventually killed them off. This one is on the edge of a hugelkulture bed and gets more steady moisture so it’s thriving but won’t spread unless i irrigate the surrounding area.

 

[Douglas.Curtis]

Russian Boking 14 never produces viable seeds, so it only spreads through roots. Definitely helps keep it in check.

This stuff makes a GREAT liquid fertilizer. Stuff a gallon jug full of the leaves, then poke holes in the bottom and the lid. Turn it upside down in a cottage cheese cup or quart jar, and then set it somewhere it won't be disturbed. The comfrey will slowly break down and drip a green (non-smelly) liquid into the jar. Great for foliar or root drench on a lot of plants.

 

[Greenfingers420UK]

Awesome mate thank you.

 

[KidCharlemagne]

Best used as a bulk for compost heaps as its taproot pulls nutrients from deep. Bocking 4 and 14 are sterile and preferable.

 

[leatherlola]

The comfrey in my yard keeps getting powdery mildew whenever it rains for an extended time (>1 week). Anyone else have this problem?

I know it makes a decent fert/input for compost since it's so prolific, but I'm not so sure when it's full of powdery mildew.

 

[amanda88]

The comfrey in my yard keeps getting powdery mildew whenever it rains for an extended time (>1 week). Anyone else have this problem?

I know it makes a decent fert/input for compost since it's so prolific, but I'm not so sure when it's full of powdery mildew.

no problem, if concerned a light spray with neem oil will suffice,

for years my prime nute has always been comfrey and for (N): stinging nettle leaves, all rotted down in a large barrel, that I often forget to heap into, I tried reading the ppms, one time and think the ppms reach peak at about 2-3 weeks later after starting the tea, depending on local temps
with prices currently going crazy(2023) I'll be topping that 10 gallon drum very soon

 

[Imsurethiswillwork2022]

I personally use banana peels, blended in water and strained, but coomfrey is also a good option for nitrogen.