Sunday 27 May 2012

Knitbone, the humming plant...


One of the benefits of having a hyperactive JRT, is the prolonged walks to keep her fit and well, and of course, we have to go with her, as otherwise she'd be off with the squirrels, and learning to climb trees. As often mentioned, we spend some time over at The Pinetum with these walks, and a few years ago, we started taking pictures of the colours and wild flowers, because they are often breathtaking, especially at this time of year.

It took us ages to find out what Comfrey looked like, and, as can be understood here, this stuff really rocks!
Last year, we used it copiously all over the top veg, and as can be seen from the content, it really is an organic gardener's dream ticket. We're bringing on a few plants this year, and will also be adding some concoction made from steeping nettles for a few days, because they produce a high nitrogen soup as well.

But there is one drawback. Both Comfrey and nettles, after a few days soaking and sulking in a container, produce one of the smelliest substances I have ever encountered, and yesterday I had to delve into the bin with both hands...

So, today, I have few friends, and I'll have even fewer, when I go down to 'The Patch', and mix up some more, together with some liquid '6X' chicken manure, and probably cause mass evacuation of the whole of the village, and maybe further...

But the spuds will like it!

8 comments:

rvi said...

Fascinating! One learns all sorts of interesting things herein. Good luck with your vegetation. Have you thought about taking a bucketful or two of your ponkymix to Westminster? Just to clear the air, you understand.... Better wait until they all come back from their latest extended break though.

Nice to know the spuds will like it; those folk down White Hart Lane way have odd tastes!

When does the triffid season start?

Thud said...

I may give your version of bio warfare a whirl.

Philipa said...

I keep thinking you are what you eat? The choice at the supermarket seems to be pesticide and drip-fed antibiotics. The healthier organic choice seems to be nettle soup and chicken shit. No wonder I live on beer and pizza :-D

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

What a good idea Reevers!

I took a fresh look at the stuff this evening, and it's getting worse...

Just planted out another 33 toms this evening - that makes 66 in total so far. There are a futher dozen to go in the greenhouse, and I think I'll stop there...

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Its dead easy Thudders, just chuck 'em in a bucket, and leave them for a few days.

The sloppy stuff still goes in the compost, and the gunk gets watered everywhere...

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

"nettle soup and chicken shit"

Ha ha ha Pips!

Absolutely - coprophagia rules...

We're in no way complete organicals, there are plenty of nasty chemicals around, but it's just so much cheaper to use stuff which grows wild!

Electro-Kevin said...

I can smell it from here.

We grew some Radichio last year and left it. It's about 4' high now.

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Should be able to make a walking stick from it then Elecs...;0)