Comfrey

 Because of its high levels of NPK nutrients comfrey is a very beneficial plant to organic gardeners and small holders alike. For those of you who don’t know, NPK are the basic nutrients that plants require for healthy growth. (N) being nitrogen, (P) being phosphorous and (K) being potash. Fertilizer made from comfrey leaves has at least the same amount of nutrients as chemically manufactured fertilizers as well as manure and bog standard compost.

 Planting

Comfrey is an easy plant to grow providing you can give it certain requirements. It likes deep soil, so dig over your soil breaking up any clods and remove as many stones as possible. Incorporate compost or manure if your soil lacks organic matter. You can even add fresh chicken pooh if you have any as fresh manure doesn’t burn comfrey. If you have very shallow soil on top of bedrock your only option will be to construct a raised bed.

Your biggest problem though will be keeping it watered in the summer. Comfrey needs plenty of water so add mulches, weed membrane or plastic sheets around the base of the plant and if possible plant it where it will be shaded during the hottest part of the day. Water copiously at night and check it during the day.

 Propagation

We grow two types of comfrey, common comfrey symphytum officinale and a cultivar Russian comfrey (bocking14) symphytum uplandicum. Russian comfrey is sterile and can only be grown from root cuttings. Once the plant is established take a two inch cutting and plant it about an inch or so deep in a pot of compost, water it well and keep it moist. Comfrey does not grow well in pots so transplant it to its final site when it has formed a good root system.

If you want to grow from seed, pot up two seeds per pot, keep moist and wait.

 Harvesting

You can harvest comfrey two to three times a year but only when the plant is established in its second year. Cut the leaves a few inches above the ground, use a pair of hedge shears and wear gloves as the leaves can irritate.

 Using Comfrey

• Comfrey is high in nitrogen so can be used as a compost activator to speed up the process.
• Wilted leaves can be used as mulch around the base of plants releasing their nutrients into the soil.
• Leaves can be made into a liquid fertilizer for tomatoes, beans, peppers etc
• Wilted leaves can also be used as a feed for chickens and other livestock.