Gardeners are praising a simple two-ingredient DIY fertiliser – comfrey tea – for producing sweeter and tastier tomatoes. The homemade feed, rich in potassium, is applied weekly once the plants start fruiting.
Why comfrey works
Tomatoes need substantial nutrients, especially potassium, to produce the best fruit. While many chemical fertilisers are available, natural alternatives can be equally effective. Comfrey, a fast-growing perennial with deep roots, draws up nutrients from deep in the soil and concentrates them in its leaves, making it an ideal plant food.
On the Facebook page Allotment Hints & Tips, gardener Dewi Lestari asked for tips to enhance tomato flavour. The post drew over 200 responses, with many recommending comfrey tea. Des Bradley suggested applying it weekly once fruiting begins, and Dewi replied: “Interesting! Comfrey tea is a popular natural liquid, especially because comfrey is rich in potassium.”
Gardener testimonials
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 prepare comfrey tea, gather comfrey leaves (or cut them from mature plants), strip away flowers and tough stems, chop the leaves, and press them firmly into a watertight vessel. Over a few weeks, the leaves decompose and release a smelly brown liquid. Collect this liquid and store it in a cool, dark place.
Dilute the liquid at a ratio of one part comfrey to 10 parts water, and apply as a liquid feed to promote flowering and fruiting. Group members also recommended planting basil alongside tomatoes, as the two crops complement each other in the garden and kitchen.
