Where to get comfrey bocking 14?

[mrpaulbradley]

Hi apologies, I'm sure this will have been asked before.... ....however, does anyone have a good source for bocking 14 comfrey?
I've been making liquid feed using nettles and vermicast and been getting good results, but have wanted to try comfrey for a while for the toms etc.
I definitely want the non-invasive strain as I don't want it to take over!
Any pointers gratefully received. I hear that roots are the way to go and I'd only be looking for a few plants.

[oldie]

I got mine from Garden Organic. 5 plants for £6.35. wont be sent till May.

[mrpaulbradley]

I got mine from Garden Organic. 5 plants for £6.35. wont be sent till May.

Oh right! Come as plugs then?
Hadn't considered that. I'll look them up. Many thanks

[Alison]

I don't think they will be plugs, it's usually sent out as sections of root cuttings which you plant up and grow on, tis very easy and incredibly hardy.

[perkin]

Or if you want it sooner than May, there's a nursery (Reedy Meadow) who sell via eBay. I got mine from them last spring so am looking forward to the first harvest of it this year.

[chris]

I bought some the other day off ebay.. it was like £4.50 for 5 root bits. You can get it for £3.50 for 3 odd.

[taff]

ebay for me too. Got 5 bits for about 4 quid. One died before I got round to planting it, but I did leave it for a few days, then stuck them in pots for when I'd decided where to put it.
Decide where you're putting it first, then order

[timethatthetaleweretold]

I got some (6) a couple of years ago from Garden Organic.

They are just starting to grow back after dying back late in the winter.

Does anyone know how / when to divide and multiply your bocking 14 plants?

[Two_Sheds]

I got my first root cutting from eBay, and have propagated over 3 dozen new plants from it so far

[Two_Sheds]

Does anyone know how / when to divide and multiply your bocking 14 plants?

I split the clump every spring when the new leaves start showing. It is possible to hack off any old piece of root at any old time though ... it's very forgiving

[mrpaulbradley]

I split the clump every spring when the new leaves start showing. It is possible to hack off any old piece of root at any old time though ... it's very forgiving

It's very forgiving?
That's my kind of plant!!
Thanks all. I'll have 'a root'-around!
I'm here all week.......

[Kristen]

You on an allotment? Likely there is plenty around on other allotments and they can give you some roots.

[Glutton4...]

This is going to sound a really stupid question (yeah, I know! ) but does anyone have any tips for success with Comfrey. Twice I have transplanted small Comfrey plants from a customer of mine, but without success. Will it grow in Clay?

If so, does anyone have any 'spare' Comfrey plants (and instructions LOL) they would sell me? I'm happy to have the invasive type, as we have loads of space...

[Kristen]

I bought mine from The Organic Catalogue

The Organic Gardening Catalogue

(well I think I did, the EMail Invoice came from Chase Organics, but I think they are one and the same).

It said something like "Small plants" or "well rooted cuttings" on their website but all I got was some slips off the mother-plant.

Comfrey is pretty robust so it was not difficult to get them going, but I think planting them straight-out would be a bit hit-and-miss. I planted mine in 3" pots in clear plastic bags under the table in the greenhouse so they were out of direct sun for a week or so until they have got some roots down, and then potted them on before planting them out a bit later.

[oldie]

I did exactly the same as Kristen. I am on clay and they do very well indeed.