Six ways to use comfrey in your garden

A comfrey plant is a must-have in any organic garden. Easy to grow and harvest, it produces large quantities of leaves that are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium - all nutrients needed by growing plants.

If your plant/s are established, leaves can be harvested approximately every six weeks from June.

Here’s six ways you can use comfrey leaves:

1. 1. As a plant feed. Comfrey liquid feed is excellent for hungry crops such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, and also for hanging baskets. You can also use it to feed your clematis and dahlias, especially if they’re growing in containers. Find out how to make it here.

1. 2. As a compost activator. Place cut or bruised comfrey leaves in alternate layers throughout your compost heap. Their decomposition will encourage bacterial action causing the heap to heat up and speed up the composting process.

1. 3. Use as a mulch. Chop up comfrey leaves with grass cuttings, and place a 5cm layer on the surface of the soil around all plants. This will slowly rot down to provide nutrients and act as a mulch to keep in moisture and help control weeds.

1. 4. As a slug barrier. We’ve found the hairy leaves can be off-putting for slugs and snails, so it may be worth experimenting with circles of leaves around tender veg such as squash. As they degrade, they will add nutrients too!

1. 5. Add fresh cut leaves to your leafmould heap. Their nutrient-rich liquid will be absorbed, making it a perfect medium for growing seeds and potting compost.

1. 6. Fertilise planting holes. Add a layer of comfrey leaves to the bottom of your potato and runner bean trenches. As they break down, the plant roots will access the potassium-rich fertiliser.

For more advice about growing, propagating and using comfrey, head to our Comfrey Hub.