Tomatoes need plenty of nutrients, especially potassium, to produce the best fruit. While chemical feeds are available, many gardeners prefer natural homemade options. A popular choice among gardening enthusiasts is comfrey tea, which is said to make tomatoes sweeter and tastier.
Why comfrey tea works
Comfrey is a fast-growing perennial with deep roots that draw up nutrients from deep in the soil, storing them in its leaves. According to Gardeners' World, these nutrients are inaccessible to other plants, making comfrey an excellent natural fertiliser.
The leaves are rich in potassium, which is ideal for tomato plants, especially during the fruiting stage. Applying comfrey tea weekly can help prevent nutrient deficiencies that might otherwise harm the plants.
Gardener tips and experiences
On the Facebook page Allotment Hints & Tips, gardener Dewi Lestari asked for advice on getting the best flavour from homegrown tomatoes. The post attracted over 200 comments from fellow growers.
Des Bradley recommended feeding tomatoes comfrey tea once a week once the plant starts to fruit. Dewi replied, "Interesting! Comfrey tea is a popular natural liquid, especially because comfrey is rich in potassium."
Joe Bennett commented, "I agree, I’ve been a gardener for years, and comfrey is the best possible fertiliser there is. Sweeter and tastier tomatoes every year, although the sun also helps, as well as keeping them watered well."
Rose Murphy added, "You can feed them lots of things, but comfrey is the best. My mum used it when I was growing up, and now I use it. It’s the best feed, but don’t overuse it."
How to make comfrey tea
To make comfrey tea, harvest comfrey leaves from the base of established plants. Remove flowers and tough stems, chop the leaves, and pack them tightly into a watertight container. Over a few weeks, the leaves break down and release a smelly brown liquid. Collect this liquid and store it in a cool, dark place.
Dilute the liquid at a rate of one part comfrey to 10 parts water. Use the solution as a liquid fertiliser to encourage flowers and fruit.
Other group members also suggested growing tomatoes next to basil, as the two plants complement each other both in the garden and in cooking.
