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When to Plant Comfrey in Gloucester Point, VA

Gloucester County, Virginia Zone 8a June

June in Gloucester County, Virginia — your action list

Each item below is timed to Gloucester County, Virginia's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 1
Avg. first frost November 4
Soil temp (4") 78°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Bring in the comfrey

    Taste as you pick. The first ripe produce is the best feedback loop you'll get all season.

July prep starts now
  • First harvests: comfrey

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Comfrey is a vigorous perennial herb valued as a dynamic accumulator of nutrients. Its leaves make excellent mulch, compost activator, and liquid fertilizer.

Gloucester Point, Virginia is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost is November 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 217 days.

At an elevation of 817 feet, Gloucester County receives approximately 52.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Comfrey during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Comfrey root diseases.

Gloucester Point, VA (Zone 8a) Long season
217 days
Last Spring Frost April 1
217 growing days
First Fall Frost November 4

Gloucester Point Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Comfrey Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: Jun 2 – Aug 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (77 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Sep 5

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Gloucester Point

How your county's soil matches Comfrey's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–6.5) is more acidic than Comfrey prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Gloucester County is excellent for Comfrey — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). Annual compost additions will help Comfrey.

How to Plant Comfrey

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Comfrey

4
successive plantings in your 217-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 06 to harvest before frost.

Comfrey Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Comfrey

Comfrey needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Comfrey Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 5.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Dec 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Nov in Gloucester County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Comfrey Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Comfrey needs ~1,369 GDD — county provides 3,960 GDD Excellent fit

Comfrey Planting Timeline — Gloucester Point, VA

Comfrey Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 22
Harvest June 10 Jun 10 – Aug 19

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

217 days in Gloucester County

Growing Tips for Comfrey in Gloucester Point

Direct sow Comfrey outdoors after April 01 in Gloucester County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Plant root cuttings 2 inches deep. Choose Bocking 14 variety to prevent self-seeding. Cut leaves 3-4 times per season for mulch or compost. Avoid planting near pathways as it spreads.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌱

Your Gloucester County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Gloucester County (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Gloucester County, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.