Comfrey

[Dottie]

I'm a great fan of adding comfrey to the compost heap, as a mulch and fertiliser.

But recently I saw 2 lines in an article stating it's good to grow in among fruit.

So my questions:

Anyone done this and what were the results?

Could I put it in among the raspberries or will the long roots end up taking all the goodness from the soil?


I was very surprised that comfrey was suggested in this way, because it grows like a weed once it's taken hold. So I would have thought it would be too strong to use as a companion plant.

Thanks for reading.

Dottie about my lottie

[Two_Sheds]

Could I put it in among the raspberries or will the long roots end up taking all the goodness from the soil?

Well, in theory it should work: raspberries are shallow rooted and comfrey is very deep rooted.
Perhaps the idea is to crop the comfrey and mulch the raspberries with it, thereby providing them with potash used for fruiting?

PS. common comfrey is a weed and will spread everywhere. Bocking 14 is a sterile variety that stays where you plant it.

[Dottie]

Thanks Two Sheds

It definitely stated planting it in among fruit, as the previous chapter was all about using it as a mulch.

I'm very interested in the idea as I love companion planting and have comfrey growing not far from some blackcurrants I've recently planted in raised beds. So now I'm thinking maybe I'll leave any comfrey that works it's way into the bed. Are the roots of blackcurrants safe?

As far as my raspberries are concerned, I'm thinking it might be good at keeping weeds at bay (I view comfrey as a helpful weed). I took over the plot August 07 and the raspberries were hidden in among 5ft high couch grass. Having finally cleared all the couch grass, I now use straw to keep it weed free, but maybe adding some comfrey along the rows is the next step?

Dottie about me lottie

[Two_Sheds]

I'm thinking it might be good at keeping weeds at bay

Yes, it will certainly shade out other weeds. Try not to let it seed if you don't want it everywhere though (I gather you have common comfrey, if it is spreading itself)

[Snadger]

I had comfrey growing around a gooseberry bush...............the gooseberries were ok but the leaves of the comfrey blocked out too much ligtt and the base of the gooseberry bush suffered!
Comfrey grows to 5 or 6 foot tall so will block out the light for most plants.

It's also a bugger to gather comfrey leaves in amongst a gooseberry bush....ouch..ooh......oops.....ouch....grrr!

[Dottie]

I have common comfrey along the edge of my plot, which is next to a public pavement and road.

Not much else could really grow there other than weeds, so it's a good use of space. I have then put in raised beds in front of the comfrey, with the intention of containing the comfrey to the edge. As in I have previously dug any out that spread to my beds.

But now that I've read it's a good companion to fruit (my plot is very much a fruit allotment), then I'm interested enough to want to know more. Will probably do more research this year and not plant up any more, but maybe not so quick to dig out as it spread. Decisions decisions, exciting times.

[Dottie]

I had comfrey growing around a gooseberry bush...............the gooseberries were ok but the leaves of the comfrey blocked out too much ligtt and the base of the gooseberry bush suffered!
Comfrey grows to 5 or 6 foot tall so will block out the light for most plants.

It's also a bugger to gather comfrey leaves in amongst a gooseberry bush....ouch..ooh......oops.....ouch....grrr!

I've put 4 gooseberry bushes in and even though small they still hurt, so will be keeping well clear of them.

However you mentioned the height at which comfrey can grow, I don't know if it's just because I chop it back and use it continually, but my comfrey leaves reach only 1 foot. The comfrey was there when I took on the plot, so don't know what type it is. But now wondering if it's comfrey at all? Have I just being using it as a mulch and fertiliser, but in fact it's just a common weed and not comfrey? He he.