Comfrey question Zone 6

Greetings:  I've been reading the forum for a while but this is my first post.  I am growing comfrey to use as a chop and drop mulch.  My question is whether I can cut the comfrey now (start of November) for a final mulching, or should I leave the leaves on the plant to deteriorate thus storing a little more energy in the roots?  Thanks, Ray

Spiders like to overwinter under comfrey.

imo its too late to cut again. chances are the plant will try and regrow to get a little last bit of energy stored, and itl get hit with frost on fresh growth. causing the plant to use wasted energy. i stop cutting mine back late September. unless im cutting the spent flower stalks to use. which is a little here, a little there.

Hubert:  Thanks for the response.  I was leaning towards leaving it alone and the reinforcement helps.  Are you using your comfrey for chop and drop, and if so, about how many times a season are you cutting it?  I haven't been keeping great records but it seems like I cut mine 5 or 6 times.

5 or 6 seems about right. i use it for all kinds of things. comfrey is a very useful plant. chop and drop is about the last thing i do with it.

I would say that you shouldn't worry, because there is no way that you can kill, or even slow down comfrey that easily!

Alex

hubert cumberdale wrote:5 or 6 seems about right. i use it for all kinds of things. comfrey is a very useful plant. chop and drop is about the last thing i do with it.

I'm planning comfrey plantings this spring under my fruit tree drip lines for the express purpose of chop and drop. What other uses are you getting from your comfrey? I'm all for stacking so you garnered my curiosity

I am the original poster of this question (had to open a new account due to password glitch). Hopefully Hubert can chime in here. I use the comfrey as chop and drop, make comfrey tea (Garden usage) for myself as well as giving it away on "tea day" during the growing season for outreach. My chickens love to eat the comfrey, especially during the spring. I have a friend who makes comfrey salve with added flowers and herbs. The same friend uses comfrey plants as a plant barrier. She has planted a tight band of comfrey around a raised bed orchard, the comfrey serves as a barrier to keep other plants from invading the bed. Although current wisdom says that comfrey should not be taken internally, some folks still use it as a spring tonic.