Not Dandelions: The Weed To Add To DIY Fertilizer For Thriving Leafy Greens

If you've ever delved into permaculture and sustainable plant growing techniques, it might surprise you to learn that a common herb used as a companion plant can also be regarded as a weed, much like dandelions. But just like those bright yellow flowering weeds, this particular plant is excellent to use as a DIY fertilizer for thriving leafy greens. The herb (or weed) is known as comfrey (Symphytum officinale), and many gardeners grow it alongside their vegetable beds. Apart from using it on your leafy edibles, it's also an ideal weed to harvest for a DIY tomato fertilizer.

Part of its weedy status comes from the fact that its thick roots have the ability to travel deep down into the soil, making it quite difficult to remove from areas where it shouldn't be growing. In addition, this non-native species, which hails from Europe, has escaped cultivation and can be found as a weed in meadows, ditches, and pastures throughout the eastern half of the U.S. It is listed as an invasive species by the Native Plant Society of Oregon. As a perennial, it dies down over winter but sprouts again from the roots in spring. This means that the plant will grow readily from even small root segments, which is why it has become a problem in some areas. However, if you're keen to add comfrey to your garden so that you can use the large leaves to make your own fertilizer, it's best to first check with your local extension office.

Although there haven't been extensive scientific studies done on comfrey, the benefits of using this plant are well known throughout the permaculture community. When you use the leaves to make your own fertilizer or comfrey tea, the extracted nutrients are in a form that's immediately available for your leafy greens to use. Apart from macro-nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, comfrey leaves may also contain traces of magnesium, calcium, and other minerals that your greens need to thrive. 

Making your own DIY fertilizer tea using comfrey is as easy as cutting a bunch of those large leaves and chopping them up into a bucket. Cover them with water and place a brick or rock on top to ensure the leaves stay covered. Let this sit in a dry spot for around four to six weeks so that the nutrients leach into the water. After this period of time has elapsed, strain the pungent, colored liquid and mix it in a 1:10 ratio with water before applying it generously to your greens. This works particularly well for these types of vegetables because they're able to absorb the nutrients, which are in liquid form, straight away, resulting in an explosion of growth. Additionally, if you live near a coast and are allowed to gather some seaweed, using this along with comfrey makes a simple 2-ingredient fertilizer for healthy plants and soil.