officinale, common comfrey, can be grown from seed. It is best to direct sow outdoors about three weeks before the average last frost date, planting about half an inch deep in soil. Water well and keep the soil moist until seeds germinate in about two to three weeks.
Where does comfrey grow best?
This perennial herb grows in USDA growing zones 3-9. Although comfrey is tolerant of a variety of growing conditions, I’ve found it grows best in full to partial sun and in rich, loosened soil. The more compacted the soil is, the more shade it prefers.
Where should I plant comfrey in my garden?
Plant comfrey in any low point in the garden that gets run-off from your chooks, compost or perhaps a pond. There, it will happily soak up all of the nutrients that otherwise would be washed away, then you can use the plant to add those goodies back into your soil.
Is comfrey illegal to grow in the US?
The pyrrolizidine alkaloids in comfrey can cause severe liver damage, liver cancer, mutagenicity, and even death. [8,9] For this reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of oral comfrey products in the United States.How do I grow comfrey in my garden?
- Choose your site carefully – comfrey can live for 20 or more years. …
- Allow 60–90 cm between plants.
Why is comfrey illegal?
It’s considered unsafe, due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids that comfrey contains. These are dangerous chemicals that can cause cancer, severe liver damage, and even death when you consume them. For this reason, the Food and Drug Administration and European countries have banned oral comfrey products.
Is comfrey good for bees?
Comfrey. Comfrey’s not just great for honeybees, but it also attracts pollinators like bumblebees. These vigorous plants can also be used to make comfrey feed and comfrey ointment.
How is comfrey invasive?
Most comfrey plants can be somewhat invasive spreading via seed, to parts of the garden where they are not wanted. ‘Bocking 14’ will flower and provide nectar and pollen but will not produce viable seed. The first flowers of spring.Is comfrey really toxic?
Comfrey has toxic substances that can cause severe liver damage and even death. You should never take comfrey by mouth. The toxic substances in comfrey can be absorbed by the skin. Even creams and ointments should be used for only a short time, and only under a doctor’s supervision.
Is comfrey good for chickens?“Comfrey is well-suited as a feed for chickens. Chickens’ digestive systems are not equipped to handle much fiber. Comfrey is low in fiber and high in protein and minerals, especially when cut regularly.
Article first time published onHow can you tell the difference between comfrey and borage?
Identifying Comfrey and Borage It’s easy to tell comfrey and borage apart when they bloom. Borage flowers are always blue while comfrey flowers bloom in white, pink and purple. The flowers have different shapes, as well, with comfrey flowers shaped like bells and borage flowers like stars.
Can you grow comfrey in the shade?
Comfrey can be grown in full sun or partial shade in most deep soils. Shallow soils will be a problem, though. Comfrey will grow without extra fertility, but to keep yields up year after year, top-dress with compost, spent mushroom compost or manure.
Is comfrey easy to grow?
Symphytum spp. For this reason, one of my all time favorite herbs to keep in my garden is comfrey! … It is also a long utilized herbal support for wound healing and treating other ailments. And it is extremely easy to grow – perhaps too easy, as it tends to spread if it’s not well managed.
What do you do with comfrey?
- Vigorous comfrey plants regrow after greens are harvested for compost or mulch.
- Garlic is tucked in with a double mulch of chopped comfrey and rotted hay.
- A comfrey root poultice can speed healing of sprains and bruises.
- Use dried leaves to make comfrey tea for houseplants.
When should I plant comfrey?
When to Plant Comfrey Ideally plant out offsets in March, April and May or in September. September plantings may not show until the following spring. Late planted offsets in pots can be moved into the greenhouse or a cold frame in late January, early…
Is comfrey good for compost?
Comfrey out-performs manure, compost and many liquid feeds for concentration of nutrients. It produces these from a deep root system extending right into the subsoil that most edible plants cannot access. It also has an ideal Carbon:Nitrogen ratio which means that it does not hamper absorption of nitrogen by plants.
How do you plant comfrey around fruit trees?
In the orchard, cut a few leaves and lay them on top of your soil. Cover with grass clippings or shredded leaves. Your plants will appreciate this natural and gentle feed. Your weeds will not as they are shaded out.
Should you plant comfrey?
Tiny bell-shaped flowers bloom in the late spring in clusters off of drooping stems. They often attract bees and other pollinators. Comfrey has a vigorous growth rate and can be planted at any time when the soil is not frozen.
Do honeybees like Comfrey?
Comfrey – The flowers of the Comfrey plant are bell shaped and purple in color. The nectar is savored by the pollinators and beneficial insects in the garden. Not only is Comfrey a good food for the bees, it also nourishes the soil when used as a mulch.
How deep do Comfrey roots go?
Comfrey roots can grow down 8 to 10 feet and out to a 3-foot radius bringing up minerals and nutrients that have leached down for thousands of years. Comfrey is a “dynamic accumulator”— each plant a super “nutrient-pump”— producing versatile, valuable leaves — year after year.
How do I make my garden bee friendly?
- Choose bee-friendly flowers and trees. …
- Plant flowers that are in bloom at different times of the year. …
- Avoid using pesticides. …
- Avoid plants with lots of petals. …
- Don’t get rid of all the weeds. …
- Make bee hotels. …
- Provide a good source of water for the bees.
Where can I get comfrey?
Common comfrey is a hairy plant of damp ground and is found beside rivers, in fens and ditches, and on roadside verges and waste ground. It often grows in clumps and displays clusters of bell-shaped, pinky-purple flowers from May to July.
Why does comfrey stink?
Some comfrey tea recipes will tell you to add water at this stage, but that method will result in an almighty stink as the plethora of bacteria and microorganisms in the water get to work on digesting the comfrey and fart out all sorts of waste gases.
Is comfrey safe for dogs?
The Merck Veterinary Manual lists comfrey as an especially risky herb because of its pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which have been linked to liver damage. The alkaloids are actually produced by the herb to fend off bugs, but the insecticide can be harmful to a dog.
Do cows eat comfrey?
Cattle will also eat fresh comfrey leaves when they’re chopped. To make hay, cut comfrey leaves from the plant and dry for at least three days before storing them. Don’t think of this hay as in hay bales—this isn’t typically a crop you’ll produce in an area as large as a hay field—rather large, dried leaves of forage.
Is comfrey poisonous to cows?
Comfrey is especially good for animals you are milking. It gives does, cows and ewes a nutritional boost. You can even dry it and then feed it to your animals in the winter. Some people say it improves milk production and increases the amount of cream in the milk (from the protein probably).
Is comfrey poisonous to horses?
Comfrey contains a substance called allantoin which is why it is good for healing wounds, bone, cartilage and tissue. The leaves can be fed dried (20-30g a day) or bruised (one handful a day). When fed in excess comfrey can become toxic due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are also present in ragwort.
Is comfrey Bocking 14 good for bees?
Comfrey is a great plant to have as the flowers look not only pretty and are very attractive to bumblebees but it is also a good compost activator and can be made into liquid fertiliser as well. … To avoid the plants seeding around there is also a sterile variety of Russian comfrey available which is called Bocking 14.
Is comfrey good for blueberries?
As the comfrey grows, add more chips and both your comfrey and blueberries will all be happy and healthy. Good luck and let us know how things work out for you. Some things to know about Comfrey before you plant it anywhere.
Is comfrey good for chooks?
Good choices for hardy perennial greens: Comfrey is easily the best herb to grow for chooks.
Is comfrey bad for rabbits?
I highly recommend comfrey for rabbits! It is a great digestive aid and will help with wool block, do not overfeed as it may cause diarrhea, this is the plant working use caution! … Comfrey is good for the stomach, and can be fed as a general gut tonic. Always use caution when feeding greens to rabbits!
