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Benefits of Comfrey

Susan 17Susan 17 Posts: 95

I have been reading a lot about Comfrey and the benefits as a fertilizer for the garden.   How do I get hold of this stuff.     Also this year following Monty D's advise I made fertilizer from Nettles.  Is this as good as comfrey or does the comfrey have better qualities?  

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,989

    comphrey smells worse.

     Symphytum officinale is the one you want to grow but don't let it seed or it will be everywhere. Chiltern seeds sell it.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,837

    They both contain lots of minerals that make good plant feed but comfrey ahs just a bit more and doesn't sting when harvested.   It also makes good ground cover and has pretty flowers in spring which bees and other plloinators like. 

    It does spread very easily though so harvest as soon as the flowers go over.  Just cut off all the foliage just above the ground and it will come back fine.   Warning - i've been trying to clear it from a couple of places where it went mad and bits still shoot up. 

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,537

    You can get Bocking 14 comfrey  from The Organic Gardening Catalogue

    http://www.organiccatalogue.com/p1492/COMFREY-PLANTS-Bocking-14-Pack-of-5/product_info.html

    Comfrey feed has higher potash and is good for fruit and flowers.

    Nettle feed has more nitrogen and is good for leafy brassicas.

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,537

    Bocking 14 does not seed, it is sterile. It has to be grown from  root cuttings.

    If you can identify comfrey, it grows in wet places, by the side of rivers. I gather mine from the side of the canal or the river.

     

  • make your own Comfrey ,easy to grow in the wild part of the garden and if you want pick it while out walking in the country.very good for all plants and so is nettles.

  • Thanks for all your comments very helpful

  • gab82gab82 Posts: 73

    I have some officinale seeds. I can post thrm if you like?

  • That would great gab 82  how can I get my details to you securely

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • gab82gab82 Posts: 73

    I do believe  there is a  personal messenger. Never sent one or revieved one though! If you click on my empty face.....it should give you the option to message me I think. I can post the seeds to you then.image

  • Taz13Taz13 Posts: 1

    please could so one tell me in easy terms how to make nettle fertilizer as I have loads of nettles at my disposal

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