[JohnB47]

On the advice of a fellow allotment holder, I made a comfrey tea factory by putting a tap on an old dustbin, then putting an old swing bin container inside it, stood on a brick and with holes in the bottom. Into this I squashed loads of comfrey leaves and stalks and weighted it down with a piece of paving. The swing bin is quite large, so there’s loads of comfrey in there – easily three whole comfrey bushes worth.

It does work but it’s so slow. In over two months all I’ve got is 2 litres of juice. Is this normal and can I speed it up in any way? I don’t want to go the ‘soak it in a bucket of water and stand well back route', which is probably quicker.

Any ideas?

[noshed]

The bucket of water with an onion bag of comfrey in is quite quick, but it is smelly. Perhaps if you squashed it down a bit more it might ooze more quickly.
I put leaves through the compost heap as well and it doesn't half make it rot quickly.

[Growster...]

"I don’t want to go the ‘soak it in a bucket of water and stand well back route', which is probably quicker."

We tried a similar amount, but did the watery route...

I decanted 14 pints of the stuff off after about a week of fizzing and general slimy unpleasantness, so you've got a more concentrated mix.

I believe the dilution varies between 1/10 and 1/20 but others will confirm.

[JohnB47]

Thanks.

Yes, I put some on the compost heap too - I have 5 comfrey plants.

I might just try the smelly route - after all, don't knock it etc. I'm wondering if the plant material is just drying rather than rotting down.