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How to Make Comfrey Fertilizer Tea the Easy Way

Comfrey fertilizer tea is an easy way to inexpensively fertilize your garden.  Comfrey is a fast-growing, versatile plant on the homestead that can also be used for herbal medicine, livestock fodder, mulch, and more.  Learn to make comfrey fertilizer tea at home; it is easy and practically free!

I have been growing it in our food forest for a few years now and am in love with all the things it can do! 

I remember having it in our vegetable garden when I was little and we fed it to the rabbits as treats.

make comfrey fertilizer tea

Why Grow Comfrey?

Comfrey is fast growing and can be harvested up to 8 times a year. 

In Permaculture and Regenerative Agriculture circles, comfrey is known as a dynamic accumulator meaning it uses it’s deep roots to gather minerals from soil, storing them in the plant’s tissues in a more bioavailable form.

When used as mulch (chop and drop) or made into a comfrey fertilizer tea, those minerals are then added to the topsoil and become available to other plants with little effort.

Comfrey flowers are great pollinator forage and the large leaves provide habitat for beneficial insects.

Additionally, both the leaves and roots can be used as herbal medicine.  My favorite way to use comfrey medicinally is as an infused oil.  I often use the infusion in a first-aid salve along with calendula or lavender.  

Please note that some studies have raised concerns regarding the use of comfrey internally and liver issues.  Please do your research before using comfrey internally.

Comfrey Caution

comfreyWhile comfrey is a versatile and abundant plant, it does come with a caution…
 
This plant is prolific and sometimes invasive.  Many varieties spread via seed, spreading roots, and root division.  Every time you cut or break a root, you will gain a plant.  Therefore, it is important to choose your varieties wisely. 
 
Bocking #14 and Bocking #4 are two varieties that do not spread or seed, though they will multiply via broken roots or root division. 
 
For this reason it is important that you NEVER till the soil around comfrey.  I grow comfrey in our food forest where the soil does not get disturbed
 
I buy my comfrey from Coe’s Comfrey.  The quality and customer service are awesome!

How to Make Comfrey Fertilizer Tea

To make comfrey fertilizer tea, simply put comfrey leaves in a bucket with a lid. Add water to cover the comfrey, put on the lid, and allow it to steep for about 4 weeks, until the leaves have broken down and the tea is dark brown.  Strain the plant material from your tea.
 
I recently saw a great suggestion to put the leaves in an old pillow case before adding water.  This would be SO much easier than straining!
 
Beware, this is a strong and stinky tea! 
 
Dilute the finished tea at a ratio of 1 part tea to 10 parts water and apply to plants as regular watering.
 
Do you grow comfrey in your garden?

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