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10 Organic Gardening Uses For Comfrey By Julie Williams
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| Wednesday, December 31, 2008 |
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is one of those plants that every organic garden must have more and more. It also has the great merit as a medicinal plant. The plant serves us so well. Propagation is by root division. But be careful with this plant because it will increase from the smallest piece of root.
OK, some of its best uses (and least known)!
1. A valuable contribution of the mass for the compost heap. It is a very good micro-nutrient accumulator - from a fertilizer plant. The leaves are rich in nitrogen, silica, calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium.
2. Comfrey is an activator of compost.
3. Use as a mulch around your vegetables. You can harvest growth several times a year from mid-spring. Make sure you put the leaves in the sun for a few hours to wilt so that it does not take root.
4. It can be used as a fertilizer, placed directly in the trenches before planting potatoes, beans, peas etc. (again, make sure you wilt the leaves).
5. The deep roots of this plant is the ideal tool to break up heavy clay soils. It will also provide nutrients that are leached deep into the ground.
6. Create a liquid fertilizer rich in nutrients. Place comfrey leaves in a small amount of water for a week or more, then dilute 10:1. This liquid is excellent for potassium feed hungry crops such as tomatoes.
7. Grow comfrey as a grass barrier. Chop pieces of root in a hollow in your mulch on all 40cm / 16inches and cover with compost or good soil. Over time, creating a thick barrier that does not even read compete. Comfrey dies with the freezing winter, but it is the grass. Comfrey in the spring before the growth of grasses do.
8. Use as a nutrient trap at the bottom of your garden (if you have a slope). It will increase rank and prevent nutrients escaping your garden by leaching.
9. Expand your garden beds. Divide the roots to create many new plants very quickly. Very useful as a ground cover.
10. Comfrey is sometimes known as "knit-bone" as it has traditionally been used as a poultice to heal fractures. It is rich in calcium that May be it is used in this way.
The conditions for growth
Comfrey is a hardy herbaceous plant which grows in most soil types. It will survive frosts, but tends to lose most of its leaves in winter, then rebounded with the arrival of warmer weather. You get the best performance of lush leaves if you provide a moist, fertile soil.
Comfrey is an excellent companion plant for most vegetable crops.
Wow, what amazing plant. Now you see why Comfrey is a "must have" in a system of organic gardening. Buy your first comfrey plant only if you do not know anyone who has. I am sure they give you a piece of the root to start. I hope this gives you more ideas for Comfrey in your organic garden.
Hi, I am passionate about organic gardening, and I am known by my friends as the recycling queen. I live on a small rural property in southern Australia.
It is my mission to encourage the widest possible to start organic gardening (I know you will become addicted). This will improve our lives and well-being of our personal and global.
Anyone can grow their own food with Organic Gardening. Click here to start now!
Happy Organic Gardening, Healthy Living ...
Julie Williams
http://www.1stoporganicgardening.com |
posted by neptunus @ 5:48 AM
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