Guest post blog by Katrina & Clayton
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a resilient perennial herb known for its deep roots and role in organic gardening. In Scotland’s cool, damp climate, comfrey thrives in gardens, allotments and wild landscapes.
Growing Comfrey in Scotland
Comfrey is well suited to Scotland’s temperate climate, handling cold winters and damp conditions with ease. It grows rapidly, producing green foliage and purple, bell shaped flowers that attract pollinators. As a dynamic accumulator, comfrey’s deep roots draw up nutrients, making it an excellent natural fertiliser and with the extensive root system they also help prevent soil erosion.
Comfrey thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well drained soil. It is a Hardy plant and tolerates cold winters, best propagated from root cuttings rather than seed and can reach 1.2m in height and spreads widely (although we’ve never seen ours get more than 50-60cm tall)
Once established, comfrey is a vigorous grower, requiring minimal maintenance while providing numerous benefits to the garden.
Planting Comfrey
The best time to plant comfrey in Scotland is Spring or Autumn, allowing roots to establish before extreme weather conditions. If planting in spring, ensure the risk of frost has passed.
Planting from Root Cuttings:
Choose a location with fertile, moist soil and good drainage.
Prepare the soil by loosening it and adding compost. Caledonian Enhanced Topsoil is great for this.
Plant root cuttings 5–10 cm deep and at least 60 cm apart to allow for spreading.
Water thoroughly to help the roots establish.
Planting from Crowns:
Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root crown.
Place the crown just below soil level.
Firm soil around it and water well.
Dividing Comfrey:
An effective way to propagate new plants and manage spread.
Dig up a mature plant in autumn or early spring.
Use a sharp spade to separate the root mass into smaller sections. Comfrey grows aggressively, so planting it in a designated area or contained bed is advisable to prevent unwanted spreading. Try variety Bocking 14 a sterile, non-invasive hybrid if you are not looking on covering a large space.
Pruning Comfrey
Regular pruning keeps comfrey productive and prevents excessive spread.
Cut back leaves 3–4 times a year, beginning in late spring.
Harvest before flowering for the highest nutrient content and drop on the soil below for decomposing.
Remove dead foliage in late autumn to maintain plant health.
Avoid cutting too low to prevent root damage.
Pruned leaves can be used for composting, mulch, or liquid fertiliser (comfrey tea). Its deep roots pull up nutrients from the subsoil, making them available to shallow rooted plants. When chopped and dropped as mulch, comfrey enriches the soil with organic matter.
Making “Comfrey Tea” For Plants
Comfrey tea is a powerful organic fertiliser that provides essential nutrients to plants, especially potassium, which supports flowering and fruiting. It’s easy to make and highly beneficial for your garden.Comfrey leaves are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), making them an excellent natural fertiliser. You can steep the leaves in water to create a liquid feed (comfrey tea for your plants) that boosts plant growth.
What You Need:
Fresh comfrey leaves
A large bucket or container with a lid
Water
A strainer
Process:
Harvest the Comfrey:
Cut fresh comfrey leaves from a mature plant. Use gloves if necessary, as the leaves can be rough. Comfrey grows quickly, so you can harvest multiple times a season.
Chop and Soak the Leaves:
Roughly chop the leaves and pack them into a large bucket. Fill the bucket with water, ensuring the leaves are fully submerged. Use a stone or brick to weigh them down.
Let it Ferment:
Cover the bucket with a lid to keep out pests and odours. Let it sit for 2-4 weeks, stirring occasionally. The leaves will break down into a dark, strong smelling liquid.
Strain the Liquid:
Once the comfrey has fully decomposed, strain out the solid plant matter, which can be composted. The remaining liquid is your comfrey tea.
Dilute and Use:
Before using, dilute the plant tea with water at a 1:10 ratio (one part comfrey tea to ten parts water). Use it to water plants.
Comfrey tea is an excellent way to naturally boost plant health and a natural fertiliser, making comfrey a great addition to any organic gardening routine. Leaves break down quickly, adding essential nutrients to compost. It’s particularly rich in potassium, which is great for fruiting and flowering plants like tomatoes and peppers.
Companion Planting with Comfrey
Comfrey’s deep roots draw up nutrients, benefiting surrounding plants. Comfrey flowers attract bees and beneficial insects, improving pollination in your garden. We have ours planted under our fruit trees to help them get all the nutrients they need.
Best Companion Plants:
Fruit Trees (Apple, Pear, Plum): Provides mulch and nutrients to roots.
Tomatoes and Peppers: Enhances soil fertility and moisture retention.
Brassicas (Cabbage, Kale, Broccoli): Deters pests and improves soil structure.
Potatoes: Boosts soil health and organic matter.
Plants to Avoid:
Avoid planting near shallow rooted crops, as comfrey’s deep roots may compete for nutrients.
Comfrey is an invaluable plant for Scottish gardens, offering a natural fertiliser source, pollinator attraction, and excellent soil enrichment properties. Whether used in organic gardening, permaculture, or as a fertiliser making plant, comfrey is a resilient and beneficial addition to any landscape.
Katrina & Clayton
Katrina & Clayton live with their family in East Ayrshire in Scotland and share their daily life in the garden on instagram @buildingfoodforest_scotland. They practice permaculture principles, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.
Clayton Completed The Grow and Learn Course with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society in 2022. This year he will be completing Level 2 Nurture Course. Clayton is 16, Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated for the last 6yrs. Both Katrina and husband Peter have studied the Permaculture Design Course PDC and PDC Pro over the last 5yrs, developing their garden from grass to an ongoing food forest.
They have featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens, Gardeners World Magazine and write for Scotland Grows Magazine. Katrina has a series of children’s story books out following the life of Clayton in the garden. Available at Amazon.
See more and follow Katrina & Clayton at the links below:
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