Quick comfrey question?

[mrpaulbradley]

My comfrey roots dropped through the letter box this morning. Completely new plant to me. I'm tempted to pot them up to establish before sticking in the ground..... Or is that unnecessarily complicated ?

Also. Advice on packet says don't crop in first season. Do I really have to wait a year for my first batch of comfrey tea?
Just as well I've got some pong on the go (much to the OH's distain! )

[chengjing]

Comfrey is hardy, I can't see why you don't plant it outside. If you need comfrey now there are planty along country lanes. I just got 4 bags full of them at side of a play field. I am sure you can find lots, just look out for them.

[mrpaulbradley]

Thanks chengjing, I'll just stick them out and let them take what comes.
You know I've never really spotted any plants in my rambles locally. Perhaps because ive not been looking. Has anyone ever seen some in the west of Scotland?

[Kristen]

I planted mine in pots. They were not the "well rooted cuttings" that were advertised, just slips with no roots.

During the year I split them up as they filled their pots. Sometimes when I cut them in half there were bits of root with no shoot, which I also potted on "just in case". They all grew, even the single bits of root (although they took a couple of weeks before any shoots appeared, whereas the bits of Root-with-shoot got away immediately).

At the end of the year I had about 20 plants from 6 original slips ...

Si I expect you could plant the roots and expect them to survive, but if you want to bulk up your mother plants then mollycoddling might be better.