First Cut Comfrey


Comfrey is a new crop on my allotment for 2014, though I won't be eating any of it. Since I started to install raised beds on the plot last year, I now need to make lots more compost to keep them topped up. That's where the comfrey comes in as it acts as a great accelerator when added to the raw ingredients in a compost bin.

As you can see from the photo, my new comfrey bed is handily placed next to the compost bins in the middle of my plot. This is the variety Bocking14, the kind which isn't so much of a garden thug, unlike the comfrey I see growing right next to the River Avon in town, which is giving the invasive Himalayan balsam there a run for its money.

I'm growing it in a mini raised bed of its own made from some used car tyres I acquired ages ago. When I planted the comfrey out last year, I was a bit worried the couch grass nearby would invade the bed. The tyres plus an extra thick lining of cardboard and newspaper were my attempt to prevent this from happening whilst the plants were establishing themselves. It appears to have worked so far *crosses fingers*

I'm expecting the deep roots of the plants will soon break through the bed's lining to start bringing up the minerals and other nutrients from below. Once they start doing that - and the plants get a bit more established and bigger - I'll start making a comfrey feed for my plants as well as feeding my compost bin.

Home made comfrey feed is notoriously smelly. However, James in his famous compost chat at Yeo Valley Organic Garden showed me a different 'dry' method which doesn't pong. Emma Cooper also showed how to do this in her plan for Groundbreaking Food Gardens. Luckily for anyone reading this who wants to follow suit, she also blogged about it :)

Just like the salad leaves I'm growing, comfrey is a great 'cut and come again' addition to my plot.

Comments

  1. Anonymous30 July 2014 at 18:52

    I'm rather surprised that you've not grown it before! Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP4 August 2014 at 08:11

      I was worried about it taking over the plot Flighty, hopefully my solution will work

      Delete
  2. AlisonC30 July 2014 at 20:38

    I've been making comfrey feed in a tube for a few years. I'd definitely recommend it. I blogged about it a few weeks ago. It's not exactly sweet smelling but nothing like what you make in a bucket.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anna30 July 2014 at 21:11

    Glad that you have got the refined version. I inherited the thug at the allotment but the bees love it whilst I try to keep on top of it. Shredded leaves went under my courgette, potato and bean plantings this year.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CJ30 July 2014 at 21:34

    I've got some growing in the garden, but after reading this I think it would be a good idea to put some in at the allotment too. Any idea how I propagate it? I bought it as tiny slips on Ebay for very little, and it's done brilliantly. Thanks for the tips VP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1 August 2014 at 11:18

      CJ just dig some up and replant at the allotment. Flighty xx

      Delete
  5. petoskystone30 July 2014 at 22:30

    When I was a few decades younger, my paternal grandmother had a large patch of established comfrey growing by her goat barn. She insisted I eat a few leaves every time I passed by to help get bruises away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP4 August 2014 at 08:14

      I didn’t know it was edible! I thought you used it as a compress on bruises...

      Delete
  6. Anonymous31 July 2014 at 08:45

    I've had Bocking 14 on my allotment for a few years and it's prolific. I've moved it a couple of times and having inadvertently left a tiny piece of root in the soil each time, I now have three large, established patches! Thanks for the tip on the dry method for making comfrey feed, will give that a go as the wet method is very, very smelly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP4 August 2014 at 08:16

      Mine is still getting established - looking forward to it being prolific :-)

      Delete
  7. Unknown31 July 2014 at 16:28

    I have comfrey and yep it does pong. I need to get my backside into gear regarding getting new compost bins set up. If only it wasn't too damn hot!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP4 August 2014 at 08:17

      Hopefully the cooler weather this week will help you get those bins going :-)

      Delete

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