Comfrey Advice

[mogs]

Hi, I'm in the process of completing the preparation of my allotment for my first growing season and am interested in growing some comfrey, as recommended in many mags and books for mulching and making liquid fertilisers.

I have seen roots advertised on t'internet (Bocking 14) and it seems to me, a novice tight wad allotmenteer, that it would be much more cost effective to grow from seed. Has anyone grown from seed successfully and how long does it take for the plants to have established enough to start taking clippings? Also, I read somewhere that they need to be spaced 4ft apart - so do they grow to triffid like proportions? Sorry never seen a Comfrey plant, so have no idea what to expect. Thanks for all your help!

[terrier]

Mogs, the reason people use Bocking14 is because it's sterile and doesn't produce viable seeds, so can only be propagated from cuttings. Evidently, if you grow the wild comfry on your plot, it will seed everywhere and take over. Welcome to the forum BTW.

[mogs]

Comfrey Advice

Thanks Terrier. I should have worked that out really having read Bocking 14 was sterile - don't hold out much hope for my forthcoming first season I think I'll have to dig deep in the pockets then, cos I don't want taking over with Comfrey, as hoping to be taken over by lots and lots of lurverly veg!

[jacob marley]

mog's you can plant closer than 4 ft i have a row acros my plot with 14 plant's in it if you are on a big site go a wander round in the spring you may find some growing and it is dead easy to grow from cutting's don't forget to ask it grow's about 2and half foot high....jacob

[mogs]

Thanks Jacob

Ashamed to call myself a tight wad, when I hadn't even thought of going on a bag meself a bargain Comfrey Hunt on the allotment site!

Thanks for the tip, I'm sure the people on the site will be forthcoming as usual - many's the time I've had to get me barrow for the free strawberry runners and rhubarb cuttings!

Gonna study the images on Google in true David Bellamy style to ensure it's comfrey not a perennial weed I end up with!

[Two_Sheds]

Gonna study the images on Google in true David Bellamy style to ensure it's comfrey not a perennial weed I end up with!

Make sure you don't go digging up Common Comfrey (symphytum officinale) then ... you definitely want the Bocking 14 Russian Comfrey

[Jenegade]

Could you use common Comfrey? Apart from the fact it spreads so easily?

[Two_Sheds]

Could you use common Comfrey? Apart from the fact it spreads so easily?

Yes you could.
The disadvantage is that it spreads everywhere ... and has a big tough taproot, so unless you weed it out while small, it is a devil to dig out.

That is why people prefer Bocking 14 ... because it stays exactly where you plant it.

[nerobot]

Bocking 14 does seem to be quite expensive to buy. I think I'll have a look and see if I can find somewhere selling it cheaper.

Steven

[Two_Sheds]

I got mine on eBay for about two quid. Worth every penny.
(it's a bit early yet though ... have a look in early spring when it starts growing again)

[nerobot]

Ah! Will have to look later on then. Thanks for that.

Steven

[Headbrewer]

I have ended up with some Russian Comfrey seeds, so not Bocking 14?

I do have a 'wild' and damp area of the garden which is a fair distance from the vegetable beds so I could plant the comfrey there. But, will it get eaten by the rabbits and muntjac deer?

[Two_Sheds]

Bocking 14 is sterile

[mogs]

Well thanks to Jacob's suggestion, a friend of a friend has come up with some Comfrey roots for me and I'm going to plant them tomorrow. I think it's a bit early but I'm a bit of a 'bung it in - if it works it works, if it doesn't well just start again' type of person! The roots look really thick, like the diameter of a good carrot some of them, so imagine I have the common Comfrey on my hands. I'm gonna plant them away at the back of my allotment fence on some spare uncultivated part of my allotment and let them spread with wild abandon if they have the inclination!!

[fwuffydragon]

Best bet is to sink a big pot in the allotment and plant them in that. That should help to stop them spreading.

Also if you're growing them for "leaf" to soak and make plant fertiliser, you can remove the flower heads before they start producing seeds - this will stop them growing everywhere!