Comfrey tea question

[miniroots]

The details they never tell you in books...

I make my comfrey tea in an old plastic bin (standard household size) with the leaves etc. stuffed in about half way up and filled up with water most of the way up.

Does this mean that the tea is already diluted when it's rotted?  Or should I dilute further to use?  If so, what sort of ratio?  And what would happen if you used neat?

Hmmm...
Please help

[miniroots]

[Merry Tiller]

Well the standard advice is to dilute it until it looks like weak tea, I find this quite hard to do in a watering can so I just guess, never had any problems

[cleo]

I do the same-just pile in some leaves and a load of water.

I think the `lore` is that if you use only leaves to get a strong extract then dilute to around 10-15 parts water to one part comfrey juice.

It stinks whatever method ::)

[Sprout]

Thanks for reminding me that I need to get a new bin for my comfrey tea as the old one shattered when I accidentally lent on it.

[miniroots]

If I ever had a cup of weak tea that looked like the contents of my bin I would worry!

I've found that the smell goes if you bottle it for a bit - I suppose the bacteria die, but does this mean that the goodness is still there?  It must be, right?

[redimp]

Thanks for reminding me that I need to get a new bin for my comfrey tea as the old one shattered when I accidentally lent on it.

I hope it wasn't full at the time :-X 

I have found the smell from my last batch of nettle tea has gone - it has been sitting in its plastic dustbin over winter.

[Merry Tiller]

If I ever had a cup of weak tea that looked like the contents of my bin I would worry!

It's not what it looks like, if it smelled like my comfrey bin I might be worried :'(

[vee]

I was thinking of making it with lots of water in the hope it wouldn't smell as bad. My next door plot neighbour showed me her nettle and comfrey brew last summer and the smell just about knocked me sideways!

[philcooper]

I was thinking of making it with lots of water in the hope it wouldn't smell as bad.

The "pure" brew, just leaves, doesn't smell as strongly as the leave/water mix.

I make mine in an old 10 gallon fruit concentrate drum which has a sealed lid and draw if off via a tap at the bottom, sothe smell is only there while I water (and for a short while afterwards).

I dilute it to a very pale yellowy/brown - about the colour you would complain to the landlord about if your lager was that thin

Phil

[Sprout]

Thanks for reminding me that I need to get a new bin for my comfrey tea as the old one shattered when I accidentally lent on it.

I hope it wasn't full at the time :-X 

I have found the smell from my last batch of nettle tea has gone - it has been sitting in its plastic dustbin over winter.

No, Clanger, it wasn't full but there was enough left in the bottom to make my hands smell rather 'unsavoury' for a while!

[okra]

Its strange that something that smeels so foul is so good for toms and peppers