Comfrey Tea Recipe

**womble** · 16-03-2010, 11:07 AM

Recipe?

Big pot
Water
Comfrey

Big stick to stir, so you can stand way back.

**StephenH** · 16-03-2010, 11:22 AM

Many books recommend using a big water-butt or some such with a hole drilled in the bottom, and putting loads of comfrey leaves in it. They release a liquid as they decompose, which drips out of the hole and can be collected in a bottle underneath. I'm going to try something like that, but instead of drilling a hole, which ruins it for any other purpose, I'll probably strain the edecomposed leaves through a straining bag.

**Paulottie** · 16-03-2010, 01:21 PM

Forget the hole Stephen....certainly you've got a strong stomach/no sense of smell if you want to strain anything.

Comfrey tea made by soaking leaves in old water butt/dustbin....smelly broth before watering on a few weeks later....nettles seaweed and (more nasty) dung also work well..... a sauce pan full in the watering can about right.

For essence of comfrey don't ruin a butt an old squash bottle should be sufficient(5 litre best)...cut off bottom , drill hole in lid ...nail to shed...preferably out of the rain..... pack with leaves...let rot with stone on top.....place cup underneath to collect juice.
A cap full or two per watering can like tom food. Top up with leaves from time to time

Both methods benefit from the addition of a little your own personal liquid fertilizer - if you get my drift.

Comfrey has deep roots that pull up nutrients from the soil...normally unavailable to annual veg. It has some nitrogen but is particularly high in potassium.

Yes It is proven

**Jeanied** · 16-03-2010, 01:45 PM

Janek I think many of us have comfrey to give out! It is a bit of a weed tbh! Thanks for the offer though!

**Two_Sheds** · 16-03-2010, 05:17 PM

I stuff a 3 litre cordial bottle with comfrey leaves, then top up with water (having a lid on it means you don't stink out the whole neighbourhood). Leave for a couple of weeks, then add the liquid to a watering can (so it's diluted a bit: I'm not fussy about correct ratios, I just slop it in).

Top up bottle with more leaves, more water. Repeat ad infinitum

For NPK etc, see here: http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/comfrey/index.php

**melboy24** · 16-03-2010, 05:34 PM

I've got an old plastic dustbin I use for comfrey tea,put loads of leaves in fill it with water and leave for about 2 weeks with the lid on.
When it's ready to use,lid off with a long stick,standing well back and watch the faces of my neighbouring allotmenteers!! LOVELY STUFF !
I do tell them it's the comfrey and not me! You can imagine the answers I get

I don't bother too much with straining as the leaves fall to the bottom anyway at the end of the season I just add them to the heap or bury them. I've also had good results with nettles as well when the comfrey has all but been picked..

**Nepwardle** · 22-03-2010, 02:10 PM

Hello all.
I am new to this forum, but have been avidly growing veggies on my patch and pots for a couple of years now.
I am currently awaiting some comfrey cuttings to start my own fertiliser production. Should be arriving in the next few weeks.
Can anyone tell me how big the plants get, and how soon I can start picking leaves, do i need to let the plant establish for a few months, or are baby leaves just as effective?
Thanks for all responses.

**JimmerG** · 22-03-2010, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by Nepwardle View Post

Hello all.
I am new to this forum, but have been avidly growing veggies on my patch and pots for a couple of years now.
I am currently awaiting some comfrey cuttings to start my own fertiliser production. Should be arriving in the next few weeks.
Can anyone tell me how big the plants get, and how soon I can start picking leaves, do i need to let the plant establish for a few months, or are baby leaves just as effective?
Thanks for all responses.

Nepwardle,

I planted two chunks of root last year, and within 6 months they took up an area nearly 2 meters square, they grow very quickly indeed. The usual advice is t0 let them get established for the first year, then start hacking then the next year once they reappear having died down over winter. BUT mine grew so huge so fast I took a good few arms fulls of leaves off them without making any impact on their bulk at all.

Make sure you give them plenty of manure type stuff - they like a lot of nitrogen to get going. But to be honest they'll grow also most anywhere with very little care.

The leaves are at their most fertile just as the flowers appear.

J

**Nepwardle** · 23-03-2010, 09:29 AM

Thanks for your advice J. I will find them a nice big corner for them to take over.

**gojiberry** · 23-03-2010, 11:29 AM

If you have Bocking 14 then they are very controlable plants and do not spread like the ordinary comfrey. Mine are just starting the second year and are up with about an inch of leaves so am looking forward to a good harvest. When using the leaves as a fertiliser then it should look as the name suggests like tea (more like a weak tea rather than a navvies tea). The leaves can also be used as a mulch around plants by just laying on top of the soil.

Ian

**Nicos** · 23-03-2010, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

I stuff a 3 litre cordial bottle with comfrey leaves, then top up with water (having a lid on it means you don't stink out the whole neighbourhood). Leave for a couple of weeks, then add the liquid to a watering can (so it's diluted a bit: I'm not fussy about correct ratios, I just slop it in).

Top up bottle with more leaves, more water. Repeat ad infinitum

For NPK etc, see here: Growing and Using Comfrey for Gardeners including Comfrey Liquid Fertiliser or Tea

I liked the idea of this last year- but didn't collect enough bottles- I'll certainly be giving it a try this year!!!

**Beetroot Bob** · 23-03-2010, 05:09 PM

I've got 5' length of old waste pipe, peice of mesh in the bottom held in by 2 6" nails (which can be removed). I fill the pipe with leaves then drop a 2ltr pop bottle filled with sand or water and attached to a string on top of them . Catch the liquid that drains out over a few weeks in a bucket and dilute in a watering can

I just keep topping up the pipe then when I feel like it (normally when I've got a bad cold and blocked nose

) I pop out the nails and mesh and out pops a nice compact stinky plug of leaves. This then goes in the compost bin, spud trench or any other use I think of at the time.

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