Comfrey: The Green Manure Master I Brought from Abroad

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is one of the indispensable plants of any permaculture garden. I brought root cuttings from abroad a few years ago and planted them in my garden. I now have 14 plants and each one grows incredibly fast.

Which Variety?

My plants are classic Symphytum officinale — not a specially bred variety like Bocking 14, but the narrow-leafed standard comfrey. Compared to Bocking 14, the leaves are narrower and the plant stays a bit smaller; but there is no practical difference for garden use.

Using as Green Manure

Comfrey's greatest feature is its ability to mine potassium, calcium, and nitrogen from deep in the soil and bring them to the surface. I cut the leaves and lay them directly on garden beds or steep them in a bucket of water for a few days to make a liquid feed.

• Liquid feed: I fill a bucket with water and lots of leaves and wait 2–3 weeks. The smell is very strong but plants respond incredibly to the diluted liquid.
• Mulch: I lay cut leaves directly at the base of tomatoes, squash, or fruit trees. They hold moisture and turn into soil as they rot.
• Compost activator: Comfrey leaves add nitrogen and moisture to the compost heap, accelerating decomposition.

Attracting Bees

When in flower, comfrey becomes a magnet for bees. The bell-shaped purple-blue flowers attract both honeybees and wild bees — great support for pollination in a permaculture garden.