Comfrey

[WeeGarden]

Hi all,

I bought a comfrey plant from the garden centre, thinking that it can go into a shaded corner next to the compost bin or at the far end of the garden.

However, having read some of the threads here, it looks as though I should be looking for Bocking 14(?) variety, or at least one that doesn't self seed (I have a very small garden).

The label on the plant says "comfrey - medicinal herb", and on the back it says "symphytum officinale". It's a perennial and it flowers.

Have I bought a monster that will self seed and take over my garden?

Thanks in advance!

[pdblake]

I grow the wild stuff and it's not too bad (got it out of the work's carpark, well, it would have been binned otherwise). It doesn't grow from seed very well, but root cuttings grow very well. It's perfectly happy in shade.

They're tough too. I just rip mine off to a couple of leaves and a few days later they're three or four foot tall again It's a constant harvest this time of year.

Chickens love em (well, ours do anyway), they're great for dropping in a planting hole, making feed and you can even eat them and put them on cuts

[Green_Poppy]

Bocking 14?

Hello

I've no idea if yours is a monster or not but if it is, someone on Ebay is selling Bocking 14. Here's the link

Comfrey (Bocking 14) Root Cuttings x 5 on eBay, also Herbs, Plants Seeds Bulbs, Garden Plants, Home Garden (end time 26-Jun-09 15:47:40 BST)

Good luck

[gojiberry]

I bought 5 cuttings and they all grew, no idea if it is bocking 14. Will take the chance as it is worth it to get the fertiliser. Horseradish is supposed to be a problem plant as well but I have had no problems with it.

Ian

[annacruachan]

You can't have too much comfrey. Mulch with it, make a feed with it, compost it, use it on wounds and boils and abcesses, make a tea with it and dry it or make comfrey ointment with it to use during the comfrey-less months of the year.

[Snadger]

I grow the wild stuff and it's not too bad (got it out of the work's carpark, well, it would have been binned otherwise). It doesn't grow from seed very well, but root cuttings grow very well. It's perfectly happy in shade.

They're tough too. I just rip mine off to a couple of leaves and a few days later they're three or four foot tall again It's a constant harvest this time of year.

Chickens love em (well, ours do anyway), they're great for dropping in a planting hole, making feed and you can even eat them and put them on cuts

If yours doesn't grow from seed it probably IS Bocking 14!

[Snadger]

Forgot to mention...............if you DO let it flower the bees love working the flowers!

[Two_Sheds]

The label on the plant says ... "symphytum officinale".

That is wild comfrey.
Bocking 14 is a sterile cultivar of Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum)

[tulip]

My comfrey patch hasn't really spread as such, but certainly seems to flourish no matter how much or how often it's chopped, so I guess it must be the bocking 14 variety - had been wondering if it was, thanks Snadger.

I've been using it to attract the bees and for plant feed tea. I knew you could use it medicinally but don't know how. Do you have to prepare it to use with wounds etc or do you just apply the leaf itself? Would love a recipe for the ointment if anyone has one?

[annacruachan]

The ointment is very easy to make, Tulip, if a bit messy. Use an old saucepan you don't use for anything else.

Melt 1/2 lb vaseline slowly in a large pot. It's very flammable so do go gently.
Cram in as many comfrey leaves chopped into small pieces as it will take.
Simmer, again very gently, for 15 mins. Don't fry the leaves!
Remove from heat and strain right away into a ceramic bowl or jug.
Pour into jars when it is cool enough. This is the messy bit! Everything gets clarted with it, and you will have to scrape out the last remnants.

Label.

You can use a leaf directly onto a wound, covering broken skin first with gauze, and bandaging in place.

It is also effective for drawing pus out of boils and abcesses.

Hope this helps.

[COMPOST CORNER]

My Grandad, a great believer in herbal remedies told me Comfrey is good for treating bruises as well. Apparently it helps most healing.

[tulip]

Thank you for the info - that's really helpful.

[bluemoon]

I've just taken an allotment that is covered in what is most definitely NOT Bocking 14 and I wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole, it's EVERYWHERE. We bought some bocking 14 from the organic gardening catalogue several years ago and it's on our other plot in exactly the same place we put it, and doing very well. In addition to medicinal and fertilizer uses, if you cut a bunch and lay it near a vulnerable plant slugs will be attracted to it and will sleep under it for you to remove the next day. After a few days it will start to turn brown, compost it and replace it. This is a good way to mop up large surface slugs without needing pellets.