Most comfrey fertilizer recipes involve an anaerobic process that smells awful, but this process is simple & your plants will love it.
If you’re a gardener, it pays to be resourceful. You know that the best way to nourish your plants is with nutrient-rich fertilizer, but you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it. Making your own natural fertilizer from comfrey (or nettles) is a simple yet effective solution. Not only does it nourish the plants in your garden, but you’ll also enjoy the satisfaction of creating something yourself with nutrients found right in nature.
For those who are unfamiliar with comfrey or nettle fertilizers specifically, these two plant sources provide an abundance of valuable minerals and nitrogen while they tend to be extremely economical compared to store-bought options. When made into liquid fertilizer—one of the easiest ways—you’ll get a powerful boost for your plants at minimal cost and effort. That’s why we’ve put together this article on how to make liquid fertilizer out of either comfrey or nettles so you can easily start throwing some extra love into your garden.
Can You Make Fertilizer Out Of Comfrey?
Yes, you can make fertilizer out of comfrey. Comfrey is an excellent source of nutrients and it’s easy to use in the garden. Making comfrey tea only takes a few weeks and it can be used as liquid fertilizer on established plants. To ensure that the plants are not damaged, it should be diluted properly before spraying onto them. The recommended ratio for dilution is one part comfrey fertilizer liquid to fifteen parts water.
Comfrey fertilizer is an excellent choice for gardeners because of its high nutrient content. It contains nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other essential minerals that promote healthy plant growth. It also helps to improve soil structure and fertility by adding organic matter to the soil. Additionally, comfrey tea can be used as a foliar spray or compost activator which helps to break down organic matter into usable nutrients faster.
Comfrey fertilizer can be applied in various ways in the garden such as through direct application or through mulching with dried leaves or other organic materials like straw or hay bales. It can also be added directly into compost piles or mixed with soil when planting new plants or seeds for better nutrition uptake by the roots of the plants. Additionally, comfrey tea can also be used as a foliar spray which provides nutrition directly to the leaves of your plants and helps them grow healthier and stronger over time.
Overall, comfrey fertilizer is an excellent choice for any gardener looking for a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer that’s easy to use and apply in their garden beds or pots without any hassle. With proper dilution before use, you’ll have no problem making sure your plants get all the nutrients they need without risking damage from over-application of this powerful yet gentle liquid fertilizer.
How Do You Use Comfrey As Fertilizer?
Using comfrey as fertilizer is a great way to give your plants the nutrients they need. To get started, you’ll need to collect a bucket full of the large, fuzzy leaves. Place these in a container and cover with water. Put the lid on and allow it to infuse for four to six weeks. This will allow the fertilizer to ferment for about six weeks, creating an excellent liquid fertilizer that can be used in your garden.
When you’re ready to use it, dilute one part comfrey fertilizer liquid with fifteen parts water. This will help ensure that your plants don’t get too much of a concentrated dose of nutrients at once. Once you’ve mixed it up, place it in a spray bottle so that you can easily apply it directly onto your plants or into their soil. You should be sure to spray both sides of the leaves as well as around their stems for maximum coverage and absorption of nutrients by the plant itself.
It’s important to note that comfrey fertilizer should not be used on seedlings or young plants as they are more sensitive than mature ones and could be damaged by too much nitrogen or other ingredients found in this type of fertilizer. Additionally, if using comfrey near edible crops such as fruits and vegetables, make sure there is no contact between them so that none of the nutrients are absorbed into what you plan on eating later on.
Comfrey is an excellent natural source of nitrogen which helps promote healthy growth in plants while also providing essential minerals such as potassium and phosphorus which can help boost root development and flower production respectively. It’s also known for its ability to increase soil fertility over time due to its high levels of organic matter content which can improve soil structure when added regularly over time – making this an ideal choice for those looking for long-term solutions when it comes to fertilizing their garden.
How Long Does Homemade Comfrey Fertilizer Last?
Comfrey liquid feed is a great homemade fertilizer that can be stored for later use. Undiluted comfrey liquid feed can be stored for up to 4-6 weeks before it needs to be used. To make the most of this fertilizer, it is best to grow Comfrey in your garden and harvest the leaves. Place them in a bucket, fill with water and leave it behind the shed for 4-6 weeks. This will allow the nutrients from the Comfrey leaves to steep into the water and create a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer.
When using this homemade comfrey fertilizer, it should be diluted 1 part comfrey fertilizer in 15 parts water for established plants. This will help ensure that you don’t over fertilize your plants which could lead to damage or even death of your plants. The diluted comfrey liquid feed should last 2-4 weeks when used on organic plants and 1-2 weeks when used on synthetic plants.
In addition to using comfrey as a homemade fertilizer, composting is another great way of creating an organic plant food that is free. Composting involves mixing green waste (nitrogen-rich), brown waste (carbon-rich), moisture, and air together which creates well balanced compost that can last 4-36 weeks depending on whether it’s synthetic or organic material being fertilized with it.
Therefore, homemade comfrey fertilizer can last anywhere from 2-4 weeks when used on organic plants and 1-2 weeks when used on synthetic plants while compost created from green waste (nitrogen rich) and brown waste (carbon rich) materials can last between 4-36 weeks depending on what type of material is being fertilized with it.
What Plants Like Comfrey Feed?
Comfrey is a type of flowering plant that is known for its nutrient-rich leaves. It is often used as an organic fertilizer and soil amendment due to its high levels of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and other minerals. As such, it can be a great source of nutrition for many types of plants.
Fruiting vegetable plants are one type of plant that can benefit from comfrey’s nutrient-rich leaves. These include tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, eggplants, and melons. Comfrey’s high levels of nitrogen help to promote growth in these types of plants and helps them to produce more fruits or vegetables than they would without the added nutrients. Additionally, comfrey’s potassium content helps to increase the size and sweetness of the fruits or vegetables produced by these plants.
However, young plants whose roots could be damaged by strong fertilizer should not be fertilized with comfrey due to its high nutrient content. Comfrey should only be used on established vegetable plants that have already developed strong root systems that can tolerate the added nutrients without being damaged or overwhelmed by them. If you are unsure if your vegetable plant has a strong enough root system for comfrey fertilizer then it may be best to start with a weaker fertilizer such as compost tea or fish emulsion before transitioning to comfrey when the roots have become stronger and more established over time.
In addition to fruiting vegetable plants there are also other types of plants that benefit from comfrey’s nutrient-rich leaves including flowers such as roses and dahlias as well as trees such as apple trees and cherry trees which all require extra nutrition in order to thrive in their environment. Comfrey can also be used on lawns in order to help grasses grow thicker and greener while providing additional protection against weeds which may otherwise take over an area if left unchecked.
How Many Times Can You Harvest Comfrey?
Harvesting comfrey can be done multiple times throughout the growing season, depending on the climate and weather conditions. In general, comfrey can be harvested 3 to 4 times per season. The first harvest is usually done in late spring or early summer when the leaves are at their largest and most tender. After this initial harvest, you can continue to cut back the leaves a few inches from the ground every few weeks until late summer or early fall. This will encourage new growth and allow for additional harvests before winter sets in.
When harvesting comfrey, it is important to take care not to damage the plant’s root system as this could inhibit its ability to regrow in future seasons. It is also important to leave some of the leaves on each stem so that they can photosynthesize and provide energy for new growth later in the season. Additionally, make sure that you don’t take more than one-third of a plant’s foliage during any single harvest as this could weaken or kill it over time.
Once you have harvested your comfrey leaves, you can use them to make liquid fertilizer by chopping them up into small pieces and adding them to a container with a lid (to contain any unpleasant odors). Allow this mixture to infuse for four weeks before straining out any solids and using it as an organic fertilizer for your garden plants. Comfrey liquid fertilizer is an excellent source of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which help promote healthy plant growth throughout the growing season.
In addition to making liquid fertilizer with your harvested comfrey leaves, you can also dry them out and store them for future use as herbal tea or medicinal ointments/salves/poultices/etc. Dried comfrey leaves are especially effective at treating skin irritations such as cuts, scrapes and insect bites due to their anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce swelling while promoting healing at the same time.