The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Bert on September 12, 2012, 05:35:16 pm

Title: How long
Post by: Bert on September 12, 2012, 05:35:16 pm

How long can you keep home made plant food? I was going to make up a dustbin full of comfry and water let it rot down, but wasn't shore if it would keep over the winter.

Title: Re: How long
Post by: Beewyched on September 12, 2012, 08:31:49 pm

Can't find anything specific, but this link is interesting
http://www.allotment.org.uk/grow-your-own/comfrey (http://www.allotment.org.uk/grow-your-own/comfrey)
my pigs, geese & chooks love the stuff too  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: How long
Post by: Fleecewife on September 12, 2012, 11:19:07 pm

If you keep it covered it will last until next year.   It is easier though to not add water at the rotting stage but put just the comfrey leaves into a bucket or barrel or dustbin and just collect the drips from underneath, or tip it - far less volume to store.  Dilute to use, about 1:10.

Title: Re: How long
Post by: Plantoid on September 13, 2012, 12:41:20 am

Thanks for that timely reminder FW,
 I was thinking of giving mine the final chop of the year  tomorrow between rain  sessions , then storing the resultant juices  & some fresh chopped leaves in the chest freezer in vac packs .

Title: Re: How long
Post by: Mel on September 13, 2012, 09:24:15 am

I have always cut the Comfrey down and put it into large barrels with water,it only takes a couple of weeks to make the "Comfrey Tea" especially if it is hot weather,my barrels are covered with lids,after a couple of weeks you can smell it,it is really very pungent~so must be ready ;D

I have used this on everything this year with great success,my largest tomato crop ever,still going strong,the Pattypan squash love it,though I am not too sure about the chillies.?!But they are going well at the moment. :)

Title: Re: How long
Post by: Bert on September 14, 2012, 08:29:16 am

Thanks for all the advice  :thumbsup: . I will do that little job today if I can stay upright long enough in these strong winds and torrential down pores  :raining: .

Title: Re: How long
Post by: Red on October 24, 2012, 12:56:43 pm

I do the same with rubarb leaves, I read it in home farmer and its a great way of keeping bugs of the cabdages - but I wonder if you could mix rubarb and comfry - what would that do? has anyone tried it?