Identification

[DanielC]

Any one know what this is? I've been informed its a weed but would like to know exactly what it is before I go digging it up. There are 3 or 4 growing in the allotment and I've seen a few around the village too. Looks kind of familiar but just can’t place it. Thanks for any suggestions!

[HappyMouffe]

I'm probably miles of, but is it Green Alkanet? (not sure about the spots on the leaves though...)

http://www.foxysislandwalks.com/Wild...en_Alkanet.jpg

[Snadger]

Looks like Comfrey to me? Can't be sure though as I haven't grown it!

[nick the grief]

Is it either Comfrey or maybe even a foxglove?

[Alice]

It's not a foxglove, I have them by the million. Whatever it is, I don't have it.

[Alice]

Oh, and Dobbies are charging £2.99 for a foxglove in a pot. I wonder if I could sell them some.

[wellie]

I'm going with Comfrey, 100%.

[johnty greentoes]

I'm sure it's comfrey. People call it a weed because it is so invassive and needs a firm hand - but it is also a brilliant fertiliser.

Take 2 biggish leaves, put in a bucket of water and leave for a week, hey presto a liquid feed so potent most people dilute it further.

Every plot should have one.

[nick the grief]

Thats Russian Comfrey JGT (specifically Boking 14) the common comfrey will seed itself everywhere & can be a pig to shift ( sorry Piglet)

[Earthbabe]

And it can be prone to the odd spot of mould.

I'm going with NTG on this one. Although I had that thought independently - strange but true.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Daniel welcome to the grapevine or the madhouse!!

Can you resize your photo please? Our web designer Ben has posted instructions on resizing in the Fruit And Vegetable Showcase. The first thread Please Read Before Posting. Thanks.

[la cebolla grande]

Its Green Alkanet (a relative of comfrey). Its a native, but often planted and an absolute NUISANCE. It has nice blue flowers, but is a rampant self seeder, especially in drier soils as we have here in East Anglia.

Trust me on this one, I'm a botanist!!

[DanielC]

Sorry Lesley, pic now resized.

Thanks for all the replys.

To be honest the picture of that Green Alkanet with flowers does ring bells with the ones seen around the place last year (i'm in East Anglia - Cambridgeshire). I will compost it. Does it spread by root cutting easily or just seed? I mean how well do I have to make sure I dig it up?

Now that Boking 14 does sound like potent stuff, will have to get my self one of those....

[Lesley Jay]

Thanks Daniel !!

[nick the grief]

.....Now that Boking 14 does sound like potent stuff, will have to get my self one of those....

Widly available Daniel try either the Organicgardening catalogue ( used to be HDRA) or Tamar Organics. decide where you want to grow it and dig it well , remove all the perenial weeds and give it a goo dose of muck and plant.

HDRA do a booklet thats about a £1 on comfrey growing and how to make your own feeds etc