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As I grow my comfrey in a large pot I was wondering if it should be fed. It is in the same soil all the time so I thought maybe it would use up all the goodness from the soil pretty soon. I wondered if maybe an annual top dressing of garden compost would do the job.
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It wouldn't do any harm.Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet -
It is in a big pot because I was told that it is invasive. Growing it to make comfrey tea to feed my plants withComment
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Hmm. I see it like this...
Comfrey tea is a really good feed because the comfrey roots go right down deep into the subsoil and pull up nutrients that most plants can't access. Those nutrients get stored in the comfrey leaves and leach out into the tea.
If you grow it in a pot, and have to give it plant food so that it can make the food, this kind of defeats the object. You might just as well give the plant food to the plants you wanted to feed with the comfrey tea.
Of course I might have got this all wrong...Comment
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Suppose I need to put it in the soil then eh
thank youComment
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You can get a type of comfrey that is not invasive but as I don't use it can't give you the name. Some one will be along and advise soon.Potty by name Potty by nature.
By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.
We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.
Aesop 620BC-560BC
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Anita P I have never grown comfry, but as Martin H has said it has deep roots so could you put it into a pot with the bottom removed, and as long as you dont let it seed that should contain itit may be a struggle to reach the top, but once your over the hill your problems start.
Member of the Nutters Club but I think I am just there to make up the numbers
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Comfrey is invasive mainly because it drops its seed everywhere. The type that doesn't set viable seed is Bocking 14.Originally posted by Potstubsdustbins View Post
Keeping ordinary comfrey in a pot won't stop it spreading seed.
Either type will regrow from its very deep roots, so once you've planted it in the ground you'll probably never get rid of it from that spot. It will only spread slowly from the roots, so it's not invasive in the way (e.g.) mint can be.Comment
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Will do that. Thank you RaryComment
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Thanks MartinPotty by name Potty by nature.
By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.
We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.
Aesop 620BC-560BC
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Comfrey in pot
Hi Anita,
I have grown comfrey (Bocking 14) from seed and it worked well for me. However as someone pointed out it does need to get it's roots down deep (8ft) to work it's magic so a pot wouldn't allow the best of the nutrients to be mined.
The end of last year my wife and I moved house and I didn't bother replanting comfrey, however in the spring I did find a large cache of it growing freely along side a main road. So now I just stop off on the way from work and take a sample
Might be worth having a nose around and seeing if Nature can help you out! Certainly easier than risking it spread over your garden!
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It will only seed everywhere if you let it flower
As you want to make comfrey tea from it, simply chop it down before the flowers open and use the flower stems to make the tea. Simples.
Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
Endless wonder.Comment
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Make sure you mask it by placing it in a preheated teapot, water must be boiling to infuse the flavour.Add sugar and milk to taste!Originally posted by mothhawk View PostIt will only seed everywhere if you let it flower As you want to make comfrey tea from it, simply chop it down before the flowers open and use the flower stems to make the tea. Simples. 
My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)
Diversify & prosper
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