What started off as an experiment quickly became a hugely productive mini-system that is ideal for anyone wanting to make the most out of their composting or hot bed setups!
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32 Comments
Literally just plumbed in a tank next to my water butt. Just ripped up some comfrey and added it in. Now I just need rain, shouldn't be a problem this time of year. Very excited to use the feed 😁
Türkçe altyazı da ekler misiniz lütfen 😊
I love that you explain comfrey rather than just say this is comfrey ❤
Chickens love it too!
I remember one of the presenters on Gardeners World showing a similar system quite a few years ago. It wasn’t Tirchmarch, Hamilton or Mont Don – I think it was ? Buckley).
Looking to get a patch started now ready for next year. Any idea when it’ll be back in stock on Dyfi plants?
Biodynamic accumulators… there's a database by the USDA and some plants, like comfrey, are true standouts. But Comfrey isn't alone! I've been using yellow dock for a few years now in a chop and drop and tea… very similar to comfrey. But I love the on-tap setup with a few 6" pvc pipes and a jar of rocks. I know just where my set up is going! Thank you so much, Huw! ❤
I love your problem solving and am so impressed with your garden! It just keeps getting better. 🙂
Greta system Roger!
Also your System is amazing Huw.
I tried already to apply it. For me the comfery sadly did not thrive. I guess three faktor kontibuted, it's a bit to shady Infront of my kompost, it's under a tree that away a lot of the moisture, and then the chicken. They don't eat it as they have plenty of other stuff they prefer, but they scratch the ground around hoping for some worms making the mistake to leave the compost. If the comfery would thrive I guess it would be quickly big enough to not get harmed by the chicken. I will try it again probably earlyer in spring, when there is more moisture.
Hi Huw,
What is the exact name of this Comfrey, please?
You look to be cutting the comfrey very young, in terms of the actual leaves. I tend to cut it back after it has flowered, so the bees get the benefit. Would it be easier to get 'tea' from younger leaves rather than more mature ones? As others have said, Roger's system looks great and I think I may well look at copying it!! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much indeed for sharing this!!
Gratefully appreciated!!
I definitely need Comfrey for my gardens, I've had to remove the Patios, Concrete and Aggregates!!
And now need to build soil out of whats left!!
Leaf mould is great, but Comfrey would be ideal!!
The Roots would help hold onto and draw up nutrients!!
I might have to get some wild comfrey rootstock from my friends land!! 😊❤
Andréa and Critters. …XxX…
Instead of just tearing leaves and mulching could I liquidise the leaves and pour that over the soil? I am thinking that smaller particles will break down faster.
It's a bit "10 years ago" as a video. When comfrey was "all the business" with permaculture and stuff. Today, people don't bother. Why ? Coz you just get weed clippings and it does the same thing… Comfrey pulls phosphorous and potassium from deep underground ? Yeah so do thistles, rumex, dandelions, mallow and any other herbaceous or annual weed that grows well on alkaline soils. Of course they don't all grow as crazy as comphrey, but combined weeds in general do. So just get some good clippings when they're not in seeds, and job done. Free mulch rich in NPK. Of course if you don't like weeds at all, you can replace it all with a patch of comphrey if you fancy it. It might also be useful against bindweed, which is a nightmare in rich veggies patches. But personally I'm not a fan of comfrey . It's big and alien looking.
I keep meaning to get things organized to have the tea but dragged my heels due to the stench-genius method with Roger-will try my best. Curious how late can we fertilize with the tea as the fall is here (zone 9). I find that comfrey is at it's prime after I need it 🙂
I seemed to have compromised my pressed no water comfrey when I added more leaves to it so I'm going to start over and try again. The first time I did it I got nice dark green clean liquid with no smell; but when I added more comfrey it got gross and watery with that dreaded smell… I'm wondering in hindsight if I maybe added comfrey that had water on the leaves from my sprinkler. I didn't think I did but idk what else could have caused that. Do the leaves need to be, not dried, but at least dry? I also don't know what kine of comfrey I have but it has never flowered and I've had it for 2-3 years.
Inspired by you Huw I pulled one long root up (that was a young plant) and cut it in 30 tiny pieces about 2 cm and put them in a seed tray then covered it with some compost and watered it, and 3 weeks later I they got shoots and now i have about 24 new comfrey plants! That I will spread amongst my garden for mulch etc and I also make s salve out of the root and of course give to my neighbours 🙂 Thank you for all your content on this platform it is highly appreciated!
I didn't realise comfrey would grow in full shade. My compost bin, like yours, sits in the darkest corner under shade. No direct sun ever.
great ideas!
Just one warning: do not let any root pieces go out of your control! A friend has 1000 m2 of unwanted comfrey and we only just last week came up with an organic extermination idea.
Regarding your comfrey, was the first cut the deepest?
Great tip here! I grow a lot of Bocking 14 Comfrey, and use it for mulching plants, enriching compost piles, and making comfrey tea. I also use new leaves to make Comfrey Salve with is better than anything one the market for rashes, injuries, burns, etc. I have shared many comfrey roots and crowns with fellow gardeners, too.
I am a beginner gardener (in Romania) and while I was cleaning my space of weeds I did not know what on earth was this big weed that keeps appearing stronger and stronger each time I cut it 🤣 a few weeks ago I searched it on google and guess what, it turns out I have the best plant any gardener could have in his yard. 🤩
Where can I purchase blocking 14 seeds? Thank you 😊
I use second hand bokashi bins and a brick for my comfy, nettles and pernicious weeds. ( one for each, but you can combine)
I have Bocking 14 comfrey too. I also have ground squirrels who seem to be “planting” comfrey roots for me as they make tunnels and overall terrorize my garden, lol. Have a great weekend Huw. TeresaSue
Can I use Roger's system for Borage? Thanks.
I wish someone had told me about the variety difference when I started my garden. I unfortunately have the kind that will spread and never go away 😭 But I give it a regular haircut to slow it down and it has provided so much bulk for our compost.
Work Smart Not Hard.
Under my row of blackberry bushes I have narcissi I pick in early spring and comfrey plants with a thick layer of woodchip on top. I got the idea from the principle of permaculture. Use something in more than one way.
I like Rogers system. I’m going to give that a go. 😊