How many comfrey plants does one allotment need?

[Shadylane]

Cuttings every time. You don't get seeds for the bocking kind because it's sterile and you really don't want the other kind unless you can be vigilant about cutting off the flowers. I've found cuttings take better if they're hacked off the crown rather than root pieces further down. Not had much luck with that. As for slugs, I've seen them having a nibble before, I also once read about someone who put them round her plants and the slugs went for the wilted leaves rather than the plants. She then gathered them up and disposed of them. Comfrey slug trap - maybe worth a try if you're at a loss.

[bojangles]

Which ones are best to get?? I would like to get some not sure where to plant them?

[Shadylane]

Bocking 14 is the type you want. You might be able to get it on ebay. You need to plant it somewhere where it can stay permanantley because once it's established it's hard to get rid of.

[bojangles]

Thanks. Will have a look around on the plot not sure if it would be a good idea to.get some bow as I'm still tackle the buldweed!!,

[Shadylane]

Well it doesn't spread (if you get the sterile bocking 14 kind) but the roots go way down and it will grow back from a snapped off piece of root. So, not invasive, just permanent

[Currysniffa]

I'm growing my comfrey in buckets with the bottoms cut out in a attempt to control where it grows. So far so good, I started with a plant given me last year by a lottie neighbour. I now have four good size plants and one small one.

[Alison]

The roots of it take really very easily, only a tiny bit will grow on and on. I started with about 5 bits of root and now have a nice big patch which is very useful. Not enough for all my needs but I suplement with wild stuff from near the canal - tonnes of it grows here. Never had a problem with slugs eating it - they're too busy eating my sunflowers and tagetes I think. They again, my patch is near the wildlife pond which is full of frogs.

[Peppermint]

How far apart should I plant my Comfrey? I bought 5 root cuttings and popped them into pots to get them started and they are now coming through very nicely. I'm planning to dig a permanent bed especially for them - that's if the rain stops that is

Should they be in a sheltered spot or will they be fine in more open ground?

[Two_Sheds]

How far apart should I plant my Comfrey?

About 18"- 24"

[Peppermint]

Thank you Two Sheds - they'll be getting their own special bed shortly :-)

[Feral007]

Can I plant them in winter? I've found a place that sells small plants and I thought if I got a few I could then take cuttings off them, but will have something to start with. But not sure that they will be ok in winter? Or should I wait till spring.........just that I'll be so dashed busy then.

[Thelma Sanders]

I'm growing my comfrey in buckets with the bottoms cut out in a attempt to control where it grows. So far so good, I started with a plant given me last year by a lottie neighbour. I now have four good size plants and one small one.

That won't work I'm afraid!
I had some in a pot waiting to be planted, and in the meantime a few roots escaped. Moved the pot to plant them in their cleared bed.....and they started growing from the escaped roots where the pot had been.

[Two_Sheds]

not sure that they will be ok in winter?

They're herbaceous, the foliage dies back in the winter, comes again in the spring


Is that what you mean ?

[Feral007]

The one I have hasn't died back this winter. It's at the side of a small pond so might have a little thermal area happening next to it. But I was planning to buy some small plants on ebay to get a bit of a comfrey/tree lucerne thing going before spring when I'm really going to need them to take off. Just wondered if I could plant them out now in readiness, or if I need to wait until spring to put them in?
I'm getting a bit over having nothing growing except weeds.
A

And why is it that weeds can still grow in winter but nothing useful seems to?

[Two_Sheds]

The one I have hasn't died back this winter.

That's good then. I can't advise further, because I don't have any experience of the Oz climate