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Comfrey

Comfrey

A herbaceous perennial flower that grows in clumps naturally along riverbanks and in
grasslands. The plant grows slightly taller than it is wide (12 to 36 inches tall, 9 to 30 inches wide)
mature. The large, pointed, dark green leaves are up to 8 inches long with a coarse, hairy texture.
The lower leaves tend to be larger than the upper ones on the plant. Tiny bell-shaped flowers bloom in
the late spring in clusters off of drooping stems. Comfrey is nicknamed knitbone.
Introduction
Mr. John Doe

Head Director

Description

Optimal Time/Temperature for Germination:
Comfrey is hardy both to the extremely cold and hot temperatures within its growing zones. It will die back in the late fall once frost and freezing temperatures have arrived. But the roots will remain, and the plant will come up again in the spring. Humidity typically isn’t an issue for comfrey as long as adequate soil moisture is maintained. Hardiness zones 4 to 8.
Optimal Soil Conditions:
Comfrey brings up nutrients from the soil, so they are available to other plants is another good purpose. It can grow in full sun to partial shade, meaning it needs at least three hours of direct sunlight on most days. In the warmer parts of its growing zones, plant it where it will get shade from the strong afternoon sun. The plant can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, including clay soil and somewhat sandy soil. But it prefers an organically rich, loamy soil that has good drainage. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is ideal, but it can tolerate slightly alkaline soil as well. (neutral 6.0 to 7.0).
Seed Planting Depth, Spacing and Procedure:
Comfrey is a tall plant, and some varieties can reach five feet or more. Plants should be spaced two feet apart in each direction. So it’s more common to propagate the plant from root cuttings. Trim off 2- to 6-inch lengths of the root, and plant them horizontally above 3 inches deep. Plant them less deep in clay soil, deeper in sandy soil. Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy) until you see growth. You can also take a cutting from a neighbor’s plant. Comfrey grows best from bare-root crowns, which many online retailers carry. When you receive your crown, check to make sure that it feels firm. A mushy crown may have rotted and should be returned. Crowns do best if you pot them first instead of planting directly in the garden. Put in a six-inch pot or a one-gallon container so the roots have plenty of room. Plant crowns three inches deep in light potting soil. Place the pot in a cool room (50-60°F) in indirect sunlight. Keep moist but not wet. You can plant outdoors after the danger of frost has passed when they are showing leaves. Plant transplants or cuttings 2-8 inches deep and crown cuttings 3-6 inches deep. Put plants deeper in sandy soil or where the weather is hot, and more shallow in places where the soil has clay or the weather is cold.
Best Companion Plants and Plants that Hinder:
Comfrey is particularly good with: Pear, Plum, Nectarine, Apple, Peach, Apricot, Persimmon, Tomato, Potato, Cucumber, and Capsicum.

Growing Instructions

Crop Maintenance

Comfrey is highly adaptive to a variety of growing conditions and requires very little maintenance. Mature plants grow an extensive root system, including a deep taproot. This allows them to efficiently obtain nutrients and moisture from the soil. But it also makes comfrey plants difficult to eradicate if you ever want to remove them. Any small portion of the root left in the soil after you dig up a plant likely will grow a new plant. So if you want to limit the plant’s spread, it’s often best to grow it in a container or raised garden bed instead of the ground. If you promptly remove the spent blooms, this can prevent the plant from spreading its seeds. Cutting back the stems after the plant flowers also can result in a rebloom. As with all rapid growers, comfrey needs a lot of nitrogen to look its best and flower well. So making sure the soil has enough organic matter mixed in is essential. Otherwise, comfrey mostly takes care of itself except for requiring water during prolonged dry spells.
Moisture Requirements & Solutions:
Comfrey plants like an even amount of soil moisture. They have some drought tolerance once they’re established but prefer at least a moderate level of moisture. Be sure to keep the soil of young plants consistently moist but not soggy. Water mature plants whenever the top inch or two of soil begins to dry out.
Weeding Needs & Solutions:
One gardener lost a comfrey plant to weeds by planting it in an area where it was planned to start another garden. Time and energy gave way and weeds took over. Comfrey can be invasive itself so it needs to be divided every couple of years. Doing so keeps the plant healthy and gives the roots plenty of space. Plant divisions in another location or share it with a friend.
Feeding Needs/Optimal Natural Fertilizers:
The best feeding regimen for comfrey is to provide regular organic amendments to the soil, such as a layer of compost applied each spring. Comfrey’s very long roots are good at finding deep nutrients in the soil so you don’t need to worry about fertilizing comfrey.
Pests, Diseases & Solutions:
Comfrey plants generally do not have any serious issues with pests or diseases. One disease, comfrey rust, which is a fungus that can reduce plant yield. It’s primarily a problem only in the U.K. but it is not common in most areas. Slugs and snails also might damage the foliage, but deer tend to leave the plants alone.
When to Harvest/Number of days to maturity:
You can harvest comfrey from late spring through fall depending on how you use it. Harvest common comfrey plants when they’re about two feet tall and starting to flower if you’re going to use the leaves.
How to Harvest:
Optimal Storage temperature and conditions:
Comfrey can be easily dried and stored for future use. Simply spread comfrey leaves out to dry for a few weeks. Once the leaves are dry and crumbly they are ready for storage. Some will crush the dried comfrey leaves and store them in a glass jar. Later you can use that dried comfrey to make a tincture, oil infusion, or even put some in a hot bath with Epsom salts to heal aching muscles. Comfrey roots, which have higher concentrations of allantoin, can be harvested for medicinal use. Dig the roots, wash, and chop into small pieces to help them dry more quickly. Once the chopped roots are completely dry, store them in a glass jar.
Optimal Preserving Procedures:
Seed Saving:
Comfrey can be grown from seed, but it requires a winter chilling period to germinate. It’s also not unusual to sow the seeds and not see any germination for two years. Start comfrey from seeds indoors in late winter. Comfrey seeds need a chilling period. Place them in a cool dark area such as an outdoor shed or refrigerator for a month before planting.

Harvest and Storage

Notes

There are multiple related species that also use the common name comfrey, including: Symphytum caucasicum: This plant is commonly referred to as Caucasian comfrey or blue comfrey for its flowers that start pink but then transition to a bright blue. Symphytum grandiflorum: Known commonly as large-flowered comfrey, this plant features showy cream to white blooms. Symphytum x uplandicum: Also known as Russian comfrey, this hybrid can grow up to 6 feet tall and sports violet flowers. Planting comfrey as a companion should ideally be grown as a stand alone plant as it grows quite large and can be invasive. That being said, growing comfrey close to your vegetables and allowing it to flower will attract many pollinating insects and it has been proven to improve the condition of the soil just by growing. Plus, it has medicinal properties. Comfrey makes an excellent compost plant. It’s high in minerals including potassium, silica, magnesium, calcium, nitrogen, and iron. These minerals enter your compost as the plant decomposes. The leaves contain about 17% nitrogen. By comparison, horse manure contains about 14% while fresh and 2.3% composted. Leaves have high levels of potash as well as many other minerals that will enrich your compost. To add comfrey to your compost, harvest the leaves and toss them in your green layer. Let the microorganisms break it down and mix in the nutrients. Can also make a welcoming comfrey tea for the garden. (Read one site listing it internally toxic but most others mention it as a loved chicken fodder. The prickly leaves may cause cows or rabbits to avoid fresh comfrey leaves but once the leaves are wilted they don’t seem to have a problem. Horses, pigs, sheep and goats will eat comfrey fodder too.

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