Comfrey Advice

[spudbasher]

be warned cumfrey spreds like wildfire,it spreds by the root system,if left unchecked it will take over your garden, but is fantastic for liquid feed for tomatows.good luck

[Two_Sheds]

be warned cumfrey spreds like wildfire,it spreds by the root system

No it doesn't, it has a tap root. The roots will readily root if you chop them up though AKA root cuttings
It spreads by seeds (but Bocking 14 is sterile)

[Snadger]

No it doesn't, it has a tap root. The roots will readily root if you chop them up though AKA root cuttings
It spreads by seeds (but Bocking 14 is sterile)

Not on mine TS! MIne comes up all over the place but never seeds itself!

[Two_Sheds]

Snadger, perhaps someone else has comfrey as well, and it blows seeds onto your patch?

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Everyone who wants some Bocking, there's some on eBay already. no photo though so I guess you'll be getting just roots - it's a bit early for leafy cuttings yet

[Snadger]

Snadger, perhaps someone else has comfrey as well, and it blows seeds onto your patch?..............................................

Good try TS but I'm the only one on our 40 allotment site who grows it.

The most likely reasons are that when I harvest the leaves I just pull them off, this sometimes dislodges a rooted portion which then roots where it falls........and.........Comfrey is clump forming, as it gets older the clump gets bigger (a bit like rhubarb or horseradish or even dock!) in fact I think it has Psuedo stolons?.......and..........I use it in the compost heap where a small root portion could start another plant methinks!

[Two_Sheds]

The most likely reasons are that when I harvest the leaves I just pull them off, this sometimes dislodges a rooted portion which then roots where it falls

Ah, yes.
So it's not spreading by its roots at all ... you are effectively taking root cuttings of it

[Snadger]

Ah, yes.
So it's not spreading by its roots at all ... you are effectively taking root cuttings of it

Typical female, just like wor lass................has to have the last word!

Looks like I'll just have to nod and smile and use the only two words in the dictionary that promote a happy marriage.......... "Yes dear"!!!!

[Two_Sheds]

Good lad

[selfraising]

Hi
I have sown comfrey from seed last year. Quite easy. Sowed them in March indoors and they took about 12 days to germinate. When large enough I planted 1 plant in a large container which I have left outside. I did get a few large leaves of it last year which I put in the compost. Hoping this year I will get a few more. I put it in a large container because I've read they can take over, bit like triffids!!

[Dottie]

I inherited common comfrey along my fence, I've not had any real problems with it spreading much. I use it constantly so it has no chance to flower, so far I've not let it creep any further by digging out any new plants that gets too close to the raised beds close by.

I've got at least 30 plants, but as I use it as a liquid fertiliser, in the compost bin and as a mulch, then I'm always ready for new leaves.