THE MANY USES OF COMFREY LEAVES

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) based liquid fertilizer is a great asset for any gardener; not only is it a very good plant booster and foliage spray; it can also be used as a form of pest control.

The equipment you will require is a container (metal or plastic) around a 10-gallon capacity, preferably with a lid to keep the flies out. You will also require a watering can, a small bucket and a sieve to strain the brew into the watering can. (Sieving to prevent clogging of the watering can's nozzle.)

A good source of liquid fertilizer comes from the herb plant comfrey. It can also be used as a foliage spray, insect deterrent, and a compost activator. (The leaves will break down the compost heap in half the usual time, in two to three months).

Comfrey has nitrogen, calcium, potash and phosphorus, in greater quantity than any animal manure, and it is also a good foliage spray. The average garden will require around seven plants for a continual supply of leaves all year around.

Here's what you do:
Prune the comfrey plants, enough to fill the 10 gallon bucket half full of comfrey leaves, and then fill the drum with fresh water and replace the lid. The brew will be ready within a two weeks. Stir well every couple of days. Strain into the watering can when ready.

Dilution rates:
For young plants: make a brew the color of weak tea 25/75
For more established plants: 50/50
Comfrey is also a bug deterrent, so pour the brew all over the plant.

Use the leaves themselves as fertilizer:
Just chop up the leaves and place around the garden. You can also trench dig. Dig a trench as deep and long as you require, then half fill the trench with chopped up comfrey leaves, replace the soil, then sow your seeds on top. As the leaves decompose they will feed your plants the nutrients they require.


Warning: Comfrey plants spread freely from roots, and are difficult to eradicate. I suggest you plant in containers, and keep roots from getting established in the soil.