"Growing Comfrey"
Comfrey is, however, still used in external preparations to heal wounds. And is considered perfectly safe to use as a green manure or animal feed crop.-More details on this edu website. growing comfrey and more!   Planting comfreyComfrey is a deep-rooted plant and will not do particularly well in shallow soil. It prefers a fertile soil, as do most plants, but is a hardy perrenial and will propagate year after year if situated well. Position in a sunny spot, although full sun is not essential. Start your comfrey patch with small plants, root cuttings or pieces of the crown of an established plant. Plant root cuttings 2-4 inches (5-10cms) deep depending on the size of the cutting, laying the root cutting flat in the dug hole. Water well and let it grow!! Growing comfrey in your garden should be planned well, as it will grow bigger every year. One of the major practical uses for the average gardener is growing comfrey as a green manure. You can simply lay the harvested leaves on the ground around your vegetables to mulch or you can go all out and make your very own organic tonic. We've been using this fertilizing method for a number of years and have had great results, and we are growing comfrey all round the edges of our garden! Growing Comfrey - making a Tonic If you have enough space growing comfrey will provide a tonic for your vegetable patch. The tonic allows the plants to extract more nutrients from the soil. First you need a container, preferably the size of a small dustbin, with a tap near the bottom. A small filter should also be used to avoid clogging the system. It must have a lid, and you will need a weighty object such as a large flattish stone, almost the size of the radius of your container. Raise your container off the ground, leaving enough room to comfortably place a watering can under the tap.  Collect as much comfrey as you can and pack it into the container. Place your heavy object on the leaves to hold them down, and cover them with water. Put the lid on and forget about it for a couple of weeks. When you’re ready to feed your plants, first put a peg on your nose, or don’t breathe in too hard, ( it really hums! ) and collect from the tap about a litre of the green slimy liquid into your watering can. Top up the can with fresh water and feed your veggies. An exact ratio of tonic to water isn’t necessary but don’t put it on the ground undiluted. It’s too strong for most small plants. Try and use all the available tonic in one go, clear out the slush ( put it directly on the compost heap) then make some more. Comfrey can be easily cut three or four times a year, but if you find a shortage ocurring, try adding a few nettles to your mix. Growing comfrey in your garden provides an organic food for your vegetable patch without costing a bean! Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Garden Herbs Page Back to Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click Here to Subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growingcomfrey.html |
Amazon (US) has comfrey seed available: