[hubballi]

I have made some comfrey feed from the leaves in a plastic bucket with water. As the weeks have passes the bucket (in my greenhouse) has acquired lots of small swimming insects in the mix.

Will this harm the feed or is it not a problem ?

[savbo]

can't imagine it would cause a problem but my bet would be that they're mosquito or midge larvae so you might get bitten...

M

[MOLUSC]

Add a small amount of vegetable oil to the bucket, this forms a barrier on the surface and prevents the mozzies from laying their eggs in your comfrey feed. :happy:

[HilaryG]

I have a dustbin with a hole in bottom, permanently topped up with comfrey, NO added water, parked in a sunny place on the plot. Under the dustbin there is a plastic container(bin being on bricks) and out of the bottom comes this lovely dark liquid which I dilute and use as feed on everything. A neighbouring plotter showed me this last year. No smell and no mozzies   She also uses the comfrey plant as a mulch and as an activator. It seems there's no end to it's wonderful properties.......it's common name is knitbone, so if you trip over your new comfrey dustbin and break a leg...........you should be OK!   Hil

[Weatherwatcher]

I have a dustbin with a hole in bottom, permanently topped up with comfrey, NO added water, parked in a sunny place on the plot. Under the dustbin there is a plastic container(bin being on bricks) and out of the bottom comes this lovely dark liquid which I dilute

Can I ask by how much you dilute it?

[Lardman]

I've been pondering this lately. I've been gathering the juice from my press but when it comes to dilution I have no idea. I've been adding a good "glug" to a watering can. Its enough to smell but not enough to turn the water tea coloured.

I do wonder if this is enough, it doesn't seem to be as effective as commercial tom food. Id increase my "glug" but I don't want to burn the plants and 1ltr of concentrate would only make 5-6 watering cans.

[LivvyW]

I read that with concentrate (no water) you should dilute 1:10, but i reckon "weak tea" is probably a better/easier guide.

[Lardman]

1:10  Im going to need a much, much larger press.

[Weatherwatcher]

This may be a little off topic for this particular thread, and please feel free to kick me if it shouldn't've been posted here, but I read recently that beans transplanted onto trenches of comfrey leaves will result in a much better crop. Does anyone know if the comfrey leaves should be shredded or just left intact?

[nwalch]

I have a dustbin with a hole in bottom, permanently topped up , with comfreyNO added water, parked in a sunny place on the plot. Under the dustbin there is a plastic container(bin being on bricks) and out of the bottom comes this lovely dark liquid which I dilute and use as feed on everything. A neighbouring plotter showed me this last year. No smell and no mozzies   She also uses the comfrey plant as a mulch and as an activator. It seems there's no end to it's wonderful properties.......it's common name is knitbone, so if you trip over your new comfrey dustbin and break a leg...........you should be OK!   Hil

By 'permanently topped up , with comfrey NO added water' do you mean you just put comfrey leaves in on their own. Do you put something on top of them to press them down or just cram as many in as possible.

[HilaryG]

Yes, I just cut the whole plant, stems flowers and all, and cram it in. The bin has a lid on with a brick on just to weight it down a bit. Otherwise it does its stuff all by itself!  I put about an egg egg cup full in per watering can, enough to turn it a good brew of builders tea colour. Hil

[hubballi]

I must say I don't see my tomatoes, french beans etc benefiting much from this. In fact, french beans are all leaves and no flower (bean)

Tomatoes are not many.

[maxie]

I always just put my comfrey in a barrel with water and leave it to stew.
Stinks like hell but always seems to work a treat.