Identification

[*Feather*]

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!!

Cebolla,

I think I might have some of these in my garden and can't seem to get rid of them. They've got really deep dandelion-like roots and if you don't dig them out properly they pop up again. Does this sound right? Thanks!

[la cebolla grande]

I suspect it also spreads by root ''cuttings'' as do the comfreys - I had it in a previous garden and was sure I didn't inadvertantly bring any with me to new house, but low and behold......

Bocking 14 Russian Comfrey is the only one to grow really, as it is infertile, so won't spread - although you can increase your own crop by root cuttings.

I got some this year off e-bay, sold through a herb company in Kent. Very good value, and you get little plants. Mine have started growing in earnest already, and we only planted about 3 weeks ago.

Some advice given to me is don't bother putting any feed on any beds except the comfrey one - so plonk all compost, horse poo etc etc there, and then use your comfrey water to feed the rest of the allotment/garden. We've just bought a big galvanised dustbin to make gallons of the stuff. It worked brilliantly last year, but BE WARNED. It smells vile, and if you have neighbours they'll be calling the environmental health people out........ put a lid on the container. PLEASE!!!!

LCG

[JennieAtkinson]

Can the seed be transferred by bird droppings? I think I have one of these growing in my garden. I thought it was a foxglove, but have not seen any growing around here.

[manicorganic]

Pretty it is Green Alkanet too. Check out this link.
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.c...lkanet.htmsure

By the way, I love comfrey and make salve from it every year. Wouldn't be without it.

[*Feather*]

manicorganic,

That link doesn't seem to work. Anyone else having the same problem?

[denise]

Didn't for me either Feather.

[nick the grief]

http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/alkanet.htm

Try that