Make your own comfrey fertiliser
It’s packed full of nutrients for your veg!
Cultivating a clump of comfrey is a worthwhile exercise for any organic gardener. The pretty pink and purple flowers attract a range of pollinators and its large leaves provide a habitat for beneficial insects. However, it’s the plant’s ability to harvest nutrients from deep within the soil that is its best asset. Large quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are stored in its leaves, which can then be utilised by gardeners in a number of ways. ● Use chopped comfrey cuttings as a compost activator. Soak and mash them in water, then pour the solution on to the compost heap. The comfrey releases beneficial micro-organisms into the compost that will quickly get to work breaking down the green waste into useful organic matter. ● Add chopped leaves to trenches in autumn or spring, ready for growing beans or potatoes. ● GN’s organic allotmenteer Terry Walton swears by his comfrey tea; an excellent way to give established plants a mid-season boost. It’s made by steeping chopped comfrey leaves in water, weighed down with a brick, for three to six weeks. After this time, the solution will smell awful, so leave the container well away from the house or seating areas!
Strain the liquid and dilute one part comfrey to 10 parts water, then use it to provide your perennials, mature fruit and veg plants with a nitrogen and potassium-rich feed. Place the spent comfrey on your compost heap.