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Cape Breton Nova Scotia

I stumbled across this while searching home made organic fertilizer. It sounds like good stuff. I have a friend who has a nice patch of comfrey so I have lots available. I'm going to give the tea a try and dig up a few plants and start my own patch of comfrey. Has anyone ever tried it on their giant pumpkin? I'd like to hear some feedback.

12/20/2017 5:42:08 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

What is comfrey? I know I could look it up, but you know already! LOL Peace, Wayne

12/20/2017 11:57:59 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Be careful where you plant it,it will take over a lot of real estate, it's extremely easy to grow and grow and grow!! Rather hard to get rid of or control it.It is a very good herb for human consumption as well as being high in nitrogen.

12/21/2017 1:24:50 AM

central Nc

Uh, I wish there was a delete option on here so Dan could erase his post. DO NOT consume comfrey. It is toxic and has been banned by the FDA from being marketed for internal use.

Tea would be good, but too much work for me. I use as a mulch.

12/21/2017 10:33:41 AM

Walla Walla Wa.

Not sure where you get your info,we use it all the time, and many people we know use it as well,many studies prove it's benefits.

12/21/2017 12:23:36 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Google comfrey herb and you'll find many places that sell it for medicinal purposes as well as salves and ointments.

12/21/2017 12:28:50 PM

NE Wisconsin

I googled it - says its poisonous and used as medicine... that cleared it up! What do you do if Google doesn't know???

Pretty sure its in all those fancy restaurants, a good duck comfrey is too pricey for this guy though. I stick to eating the basics: Things that moo, things that oink, taters, maters, and the occasional cob of corn.

PS.. some message boards use blue font for sarcasm... read this whole post as if it were blue... sorry couldn't help myself.

12/21/2017 1:18:10 PM

central Nc

I get my info from actual science, not some shaman in the Appalachians. Yes, this was traditionally used internally but now we understand (with science!) it causes veno-occlusive disease and it is highly discouraged.

But by all means, chomp away if it makes you happy and you don't need your liver.

12/21/2017 3:07:38 PM

Cape Breton Nova Scotia

I don't think I'll be eating it but it does sound like it makes a good organic fertilizer.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/comfrey/comfrey-fertilizer-information.htm

12/21/2017 4:28:50 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Yes it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids,which is also in grains,milk,and eggs,the medical association doesn't want you to use it because it might actually be bennifical to you!

12/21/2017 5:30:28 PM

Seattle, WA

There are sterile varieties such as Bocking 14 that we use at our farm as a weed barrier around our garden. Comfrey is a dynamic accumulator, pulling nutrients up from the subsoil into it's biomass (leaves) in greater quantities that other plants. We get 2-3 cuttings a year and use it as a compost, mulch, fertilizer, etc....it's also a wonderful pollinator plant. Be careful where you plant it, even the sterile varieties, you're making a lifetime commitment as it's very hard to remove. Even a 1/4" of a root will start a new plant. Some of the staff uses it as a poultice and we feed small amounts to our pigs.

1/17/2018 2:02:35 PM

East Sussex, UK

I've made and used Comfrey "tea" fertiliser for many years. They say it is great for your maters and taters but I have used it mainly on my pumpkins. Just be careful about getting it on your skin or clothes. You will smell like a cow barn (or worse)for quite a while.

I have also used ointments infused with comfrey (which used to be know as "knit bone" because of it's healing properties) and fed small amounts to pigs, who love it. Every thing in moderation!

2/28/2019 6:02:54 AM