We grow COMFREY mainly to improve the soil and add to the compost. It grows well and quite fast; the leaves are harvested throughout the growing season to add to compost or directly to the soil in the beds. Comfrey is known to act as a compost activator, used fresh or wilted. It adds nutrients and can increase yields of crops when added to the soil. 

Our comfrey was started in 2019 after receiving cuttings from Coe’s Comfrey. Because there was unused space in the greenhouse, the cuttings were started there the end of February. After some nice growth had begun, the plants were transplanted to one of the garden beds in May. The end of July those plants were then transplanted to areas outside of the garden, with the exception of two good-sized plants that remain within the garden.

I was hopeful that the deer or rabbits would not eat these and that they would continue to grow there to add to my compost pile throughout the growing season. They did quite well into fall, with only a few nibbles eaten. I’d read that deer may or may not eat the comfrey, that they may only eat it if nothing else more enticing can be found. The following year I transplanted this to a more accessible location for me, a spot where I could see the pretty plant. Unfortunately, it was too near the ducks, who really enjoyed the treat.