Is comfrey sterile?
There is a sterile species of comfrey, Symphytum x uplandicum ‘Bocking 14’, which eliminates the self-seeding problem in the garden. Comfrey is a very fast growing plant. Wear gloves when cutting comfrey as the hairy leaves and stems can irritate skin. Fertilizer Uses of Comfrey.
Does comfrey need a lot of water?
Water. Comfrey plants like an even amount of soil moisture. They have some drought tolerance once they’re established but prefer at least a moderate level of moisture. Be sure to keep the soil of young plants consistently moist but not soggy.
How long do you leave comfrey in water?
Press the sack into the water to get the air out and then place the lid on the butt and leave for two weeks in warm weather, possibly four weeks in cold weather. Be warned, the liquid stinks like raw sewage as the comfrey decomposes. If you leave the lid off the surface will soon be covered in flies.
What is comfrey for?
Comfrey roots and leaves contain allantoin, a substance that helps new skin cells grow, along with other substances that reduce inflammation and keep skin healthy. Comfrey ointments have been used to heal bruises as well as pulled muscles and ligaments, fractures, sprains, strains, and osteoarthritis.
How do you stop comfrey from spreading?
Cut sheets large enough to cover the comfrey patch from a roll of 1-millimeter black plastic mulch, using scissors. If you have a large comfrey patch, cut an extra sheet or two so you can overlap them and prevent the comfrey from growing through. Plastic mulch usually comes in 3-, 4- and 5-foot wide rolls.
Should I let my comfrey flower?
After that, plants can be cut down several times a year. If you are using comfrey for mulch, cut leaves as the flowering stalks begin to emerge, any time from late spring through autumn. Allow the plant to flower at least once during the growing season, to attract pollinators.
Can I drink comfrey tea?
You can also drink dried comfrey root and leaves as tea. Today, eating or taking any form of comfrey by mouth isn’t recommended. It’s considered unsafe, due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids that comfrey contains.
Is comfrey hard to get rid of?
Due to its invasive nature, Comfrey can spread very easily throughout your garden. It’s also a pain to get rid of. The roots of the comfrey plant run very deep into the soil.
Why is comfrey toxic?
When taken by mouth: Comfrey is LIKELY UNSAFE for anyone when taken by mouth. It contains chemicals (pyrrolizidine alkaloids, PAs) that can cause liver damage, lung damage, and cancer. The FDA has recommended that all oral comfrey products be removed from the market.
What can a sterile comfrey plant be used for?
Sterile hybrid does not make seeds. Uses: Comfrey is commonly used in permaculture as a companion plant to fruit trees. In the nursery, we have great results making the fresh leaves into biodynamic tea, which we apply to our plants in a pot to increase vitality, growth, and to green up all those leaves!
Is there a way to get rid of comfrey?
The only way to get rid of comfrey is to stop watering it and let the plant dry out, or to drown the plant in water. Otherwise, the plant will stay put where you plant it, unless you dig through it or rototill or plow the area, in which case new plants will come up from root fragments wherever they are deposited.
Is there a liquid feed for comfrey plants?
There are many liquid feeds; synthetic ones will give your plants an instant glow but are costly. Rotted-down comfrey may smell, but after the purchase of a plant, it is free.
What should the ratio of Comfrey to water be?
If you add a little water, you will get a black liquid; dilute this in the ratio of one part comfrey to 20 parts water. If you add two watering cans of water (10 litres), the liquid should be cola brown and must be diluted 1:10.
