Comfrey

Just watch the gardening programme on BBC2 (repeat I think) where Monty Don was stuffing Comfrey into a bucket and thought what a great idea it was.
Thinking back to the old ways, all the old gardeners didn't have modern rose and foliar feeds and still produced wonderful flowers and veg.
Have you tried rhubarb leaves steeped as a weed-killer, I keep thinking I might try that?

That sounds a good idea,I will try that as well.thankyou.Of course another bonus of these liquid feeds is that they are free!

Yes, it is very satisfying, I should imagine although I've never made comfrey feed. But, I get the same satisfaction when spreading my home made compost on the veg patch or borders.

Oh dear, I really ought to get round to it. Lots of comfrey, no get up and go....

I tried it when I lived in the old cottage. I had comfrey in the garden there. I found it very good.
I understand Stinging nettles are good to use also.

I also watched Monty make his comfrey feed,but I noticed he didn't use gloves.I was always told that comfrey leaves can irratate the skin and to always wear gloves as a precaution?

Hadn't noticed, but perhaps they would if you picked a lot.

That could be right-who am I to question Monty Don! I also love spreading home made compost on the garden.Again,it's these basic,simple gardening jobs that provide ample satisfaction.

comfrey used to be used as a poultice for skin ulcers and bruises.
Bear in mind that the Drone only does things for 30 seconds at a time, while the camera are on him.

It was always used from sprains etc in our house when I was a child. Maybe the heat of the poultice gets rid of the irritant? Its country name is knitbone. I used to have a little booklet with heaps of uses for it, published by the henry Doubleday Foundation.(now registered as Garden Organic).

Mum also use a hot bread poultice to draw splinters (and Dad used to get steel ones sometimes from his job in the steelworks...)Not that this has anything to do with comfrey.

Knitbone is a great name, I wonder how effective it was! I think the irritation factor with comfrey is only to do with open wounds, but even that goes against the use as a remedy for ulcers.

I'm pretty sure it was effective Urbanite - it certainly was for sprains.
Snoop what a good idea. Its on the same principle as Chinese cupping (of which I have no experience but know somebody who has)Just as long as the boiling water doesn't fracture the glass bottle....