Note: Comfrey plants may not emerge from their winter slumber until late March/early April depending on your location, so there may not be comfrey leaves to chop and spread before the growing season gets underway. To jumpstart the decomposition of the comfrey manure at this late date, try the quick method explained above under Activate Compost. By spring, it will have decomposed and enriched the soil.Īlternatively, comfrey manure can be added in the early spring-at least two weeks before planting. Gently mix it into the top layers of the soil using a digging fork. When using comfrey as a green manure, add chopped comfrey to garden soil in the fall. Whereas animal manures can burn plants if added during the growing season, comfrey green manure can be applied at any time. However, its nutrients are more immediately bioavailable to plants. Manure sources are rated for their NPK values (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) since these are the primary nutrients that plants need for healthy growth.Ĭompared to animal manures, comfrey values of NPK are relatively low. In fact, out of all the comfrey uses in the garden, this is by far the simplest. Green manure plants are simply cut back and turned into the soil.įor those on city lots who may not have easy access to livestock manures, green manures are the way to go. Green manure is an alternative to-or supplement to-animal manures as a soil amendment. Would you like to grow food in your front yard without sacrificing curb appeal? Check out my ebook, The Permaculture Inspired Edible Landscape.Ĭomfrey cuttings are ready to be used as green manure, green mulch, or crushed and added to the compost bin. The finished compost will have a higher nutrient content with the addition of comfrey fertilizer. The pre-digestion helps beneficial microorganisms of the compost pile (like those of our stomachs) work faster. This quick little extra step is the equivalent of chewing food. Add a small amount of water and stir/crush for a minute or two.Īdd more water to liquefy, then pour the entire solution onto the compost pile. I like to use garden scissors to quickly cut through the leaves roughly. ![]() To give the compost pile an immediate kick into high gear, collect comfrey leaves and crush them. If you have a large amount of dried brown material-such as fall leaves-layering it with comfrey cuttings is an efficient way to balance out the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and jumpstart decomposition. ![]() In fact, because grass clippings and other compost ingredients can be contaminated with herbicides (even if you don’t spray), this prolific green matter is important for home composters.Ĭomfrey cuttings make an excellent bioactivator in the compost bin. ![]() Activating a compost pile allows you to more quickly make a rich and balanced soil amendment, which can then be used anywhere organic matter is needed. This is the most versatile of all the comfrey uses I mention in this article. If you’re wondering how to use comfrey in the garden, here are seven ways to take advantage of its ability to enrich and condition the soil. What’s more, comfrey is known for enriching soil and accelerating soil-building. Learn more about comfrey’s medicinal benefits in my article about how to make herbal salve. It is also one of the most potent and effective medicinal herbs. Meanwhile, the large leaves shade the soil and provide habitat for beneficial insects. If permaculture design had a poster child, it would be comfrey! It is a multi-functional, prolific, and low-maintenance herb-all the things we look for when selecting plants for the permaculture garden.Īmong comfrey’s many attributes are its beautiful purple flowers that attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. Here are seven comfrey uses for building healthy soil and growing healthy crops. ![]() Comfrey fertilizer is considered a powerhouse in the permaculture garden.
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