Comfrey - Symphytum ibericum
Comfrey has long been known as a medicinal herb, its common name was ‘knitbone’. Supposed to assist in healing broken bones and skin complaints, many still use products from it for those purposes.
Comfrey contains high levels of the basic NPK nutrients, drawn up from the deep by its extensive root system. As such it can be useful as animal feed and as plant feed.
Comfrey is just one of those plants that every organic garden must have growing.
Uses
1. A valuable addition of bulk to the compost heap. It is an extremely good micro-nutrient accumulator – a complete fertilizer in a plant.
The leaves are full of nitrogen, silica, calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium.
2. Comfrey is a great compost activator.
3. Use as a mulch around your veggies.
You can harvest growth several times a year, from mid spring onwards.
Make sure you put the leaves in the sun for a few hours to wilt so that it doesn’t take root.
4. It can be used as a fertilizer, placed directly in trenches before planting potatoes, beans, peas etc. (again make sure you wilt the leaves).
5. The very deep root system of this plant makes it ideal for breaking up heavy clay soils.
This will also bring up nutrients that have leached deep into the soil.
6. Create a nutrient rich liquid fertilizer.
Place comfrey leaves in a small amount of water for a week or more, then dilute 10:1.
This liquid feed is excellent for potassium hungry crops, such as tomatoes.
Growing Conditions
Comfrey is a hardy herbaceous plant which thrives in most types of soil.
It will survive frosts, but tends to loose most of its leaves through winter, then bounces back with the arrival of warmer weather.
You will get the best yield of lush leaves if you provide it with a moist, fertile soil.
Comfrey is a great companion plant for most vegetable crops.
NOTE: This product can only be shipped within Ireland and the UK
What you need to know
- Size: Supplied in 1 litre pot
Price:
€4
Availability:
Available