How To Use Comfrey In The Garden?

How to use comfrey in the garden

If you must grow one useful plant in so many ways, that must be comfrey. It is called a miracle plant for all the benefits it holds for people and the garden. So let’s learn more about how to use comfrey in the garden.

What is comfrey?

Comfrey is a perennial plant that grows well almost anywhere. Hardy in most zones except 2 and 1. Drought-tolerant, which makes it an excellent plant for Texas. It goes dormant when the temperature fall to the low 20s, then comes back up as soon as it is warm again.

How to use comfrey in the garden

What are the benefits of comfrey?

Comfrey has tap roots that run deep into the soil up to ten feet, mining for nutrients and then transporting them to the leaves., making it a dynamic accumulator.

It is rich in macro-nutrients N-P-K as well micronutrients. It also contains Calcium, magnesium, and iron.

It is a medicinal herb used as a poultice, fomentation (hot compress), or tea. However, comfrey is a powerful plant, so take necessary precautions before using it.

Is comfrey really a fertilizer?

Comfrey is a must-have plant in the garden. It is the gardener’s best friend for so many reasons.

  • It does not require much attention.
  • Blooms spring through fall.
  • Pollinators and hovering insects love its purple flower.
  • Its taproot system makes a great erosion stopper.
  • A great fertilizer.
  • Use it as mulch, and it will break down into valuable nutrients.

How to grow comfrey?

Comfrey is very easy to grow. You can get a transplant from a nursery or ask someone who has it for a piece of its roots.

Plant it in full sun to part sun area. Water it at planting time, then let it be. Make sure to place it where it won’t bother the rest of your landscape, as it can take over the garden.

How to use comfrey in the garden?

There are two ways to use comfrey in the garden: comfrey tea or mulch.

How to make comfrey tea?

To make comfrey tea, follow these steps

  1. Harvest as many mature leaves as you wish.
  2. Roughly chop the leaves up.
  3. Place them in a bucket with a lid.
  4. Fill the bucket with water to cover the leaves.
  5. Put a rock on top of the leaves to keep them submerged.
  6. Close the lid and set the bucket in a shady spot.
  7. Allow to steep and ferment for three to four weeks.
  8. Beware of the foul smell when you open the lid, and try your best not to get it on your skin.
  9. You may strain the water before pouring it into a storage jug.
comfrey tea

How to use comfrey tea?

To use the comfrey tea in your garden, you must dilute it in water. Depending on how heavy it looks, the ratio varies between 1:4 to 1:8 comfrey to water.

This fertilizer contains all the necessary nutrients for plants. Use wherever you need to, but focus on the struggling vegetation.

What is a chop and drop method?

Chop and drop is another method of fertilizing the garden without going through the process of smelly tea making. Simply harvest comfrey leaves and tear them while dropping them around the plants.

The leaves break down quickly and turn into composted matter. You can either water them in or work them into the soil.

How to propagate a comfrey plant?

Comfrey is an easy plant to propagate. First, it will eventually reseed itself if you have a fertile variety. Otherwise, you may pull the plant out of the ground and takes pieces of the root system. They will only need initial watering to get established before becoming drought tolerant.

2 Comments

  1. Is hidcote comfrey native to Virginia?

    1. I am sorry I do not have an answer for you on that matter. Thank you for passing by.

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