Comfrey - My Golden Herbal Garden

Botanical Name: Symphytum Officinale

Comfry is one of the best plant companions out there. It can make a great fertilizer for other plants due to its deep roots (6-10'). Because of their depth they extract nutrients from the subsoil, which is not often accessible by other plants. See the video below by Homesteading with the Zimmermans on how to make this fertilizer tea.

Benefits & Uses of Comfrey: Acne, Anti-Inflammatory, Wounds

Parts used of Comfrey: Flower Heads, Roots, Aerial Parts, Leaves

Parts Best used: Dried or Fresh

Ways to Prepare Comfrey: Infused Oil, Poultice, Tincture

Bodycare Uses: Lotion, Ointment, Salve

Culinary Uses: There's an ongoing debate concerning the safety of using comfrey internally. There are herbalists who caution using it as it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Here's a good read by The Herbal Academy.

Growing
Comfrey

Plant Type:
Perennial

Sprouts in:
within 30 days

Days to Maturity:
60-90 days

Sun Exposure:
full sun to partial shade

Plant Zone:
4-8

Ideal Temperature:
60 - 70°F

Soil Ph:
6.0 - 7.0

Planting Depth:
1/4"

Planting Space:
36"

Plant Height:
2-3'

When To Plant:
If you're germinating the seeds indoors, let them mature for a couple of months before transplanting outdoors. Be sure to harden them before planting.

Bee Pollinator

Container Friendly

Start Seeds Indoors

Deer Resistant

Pest Repellant

Plant Maintenance: Low

Drought Tolerant

Frost Hardy: Comfrey are Freeze Tolerant (Vegetables that can endure freezing temperatures between 26°F and 28°F. They are the champions of cold resilience.)

When to plant outdoors: Delay the transfer until the seedlings have been growing indoors for a few months. Afterward, acclimate them gradually to outdoor conditions over two weeks before planting them in the ground.

Easiest To Grow From: Seed

Common Pests: None

Common Problems: None

Growing Tips: If growing from seed, cold stratification the seeds for 30 days in the fridge. Grow in pots if you'd like to prevent spread of the plant’s deep root system

Fertilizing: It is not necessary to fertilize comfrey as it is able to absorb nutrients from the soil.

Seeds & Companion Plants

Ease of Growing from Seed: Fairly easy once seed sprouts. Once it's established in your garden it's there for

Seeds benefit from Cold Stratification for: 30 to 60 days

Planting Veggie Companions:
Tomatoes Potatoes

Other Planting Companions: Fruit Trees, Berry Bushes

Bad Planting Companions: None that I'm aware of

More Detail on Companions:
Comfrey enhances soil fertility by drawing up essential nutrients from deep within the soil and making them more accessible to neighboring plants near the surface. Comfrey is recognized for its ability to supply the essential nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are the primary elements required for optimal plant development.

Harvesting & Preserving

Pruning Tips: To prevent the plants from spreading, trim them back once they start blooming.

When to Harvest: Comfrey leaves can be harvested at least 4 times a year starting mid-spring. Then start harvesting leaves about every 6 weeks until early fall. Stopping in early fall will allow the leaf out and build up winter reserves.

Harvesting Tips: Cut the leaves back to about 2 inches above the soil. It's best to cut the big leaves on the bottom of the plant so it can focus on the higher smaller leaves to grow and also allows more light to the bottom of the plant. When harvesting the roots, wash them in cold water, then cut them into small chunks and dry them out.

**When foraging for wild herbs, be sure to pay attention to where you are getting it from. Be cautious about harvesting plants grown in potentially contaminated areas like roadsides, driveways, unfamiliar terrain, and areas that may have been sprayed with herbicides.