I've been given some Comfrey plants - need advice please?

[gardening_gal]

Bit scared to ask after the 'ivy' thread but someone gave me half a dozen Comfrey plants and I am undecided whether to plant them or not.

I have no idea what kind it is.

I have a small garden and I suspect it would be unwise to plant it in the main area but there is a small edge of earth on the other side near the garage (mostly concreted over apart from this small strip) and I wondered if I could plant one here?

I'm sold on the benefits of comfrey but I'm also wary of the invasive aspect.

I'd keep it as cut down as possible but that obviously wont help the roots. Am I being foolish even contemplating bringing it into the garden at all?

[Lumpy]

I have 1 confrey plant but I know that it is a Bocking.

Thing is GG if you keep it as cut down as possible you won't get the benefit from all the leaves if you intend making your own feed.

I was told that you should not use the leaves until the 2nd year to allow the roots to establish.

Oh and the bee's love it!

If I was you I would put 1 where you said about and then cross my fingers in hope that the seeds are sterile - but thats me.

[Cadalot]

If you don't know I would not plant them, the plot next to mine is covered in self sowing comfey, its even coming up where they have put the greenhouse, and I de flower them for the plot holder who inherited them and didn't know they could actually be quite useful. I have however just planted Bocking 14 in a specific comfrey bed at the back of the plot and taken root cuttings from the ones I bought 3 years ago for my first plot.

If you want to PM me I can take a root cutting and send it to you if you can't find someone on your plot who has it and knows its sterile.

[gardening_gal]

Mmmm, looks like the comfrey will be heading out with the ivy then.

Thank you both.

Appreciate the offer Cadalot, will pm you.

[Lumpy]

Instead of throwing it you could find somewhere suitable out in the countryside and plant it out for the bee's.

[muddled]

Okay...just to be contrary

I've got the seedy kind in my garden (planted not knowing it was the seedy kind) and you know what? I rather like it.

Yes, it self seeds everywhere.
I let it flower and its covered in bees all day long, its really pretty, it grows in those awkward places where nothing else does and the leaves feed my other plants.

The seedlings are easy to recognise and oik out, even for me.

I've only had it three years and so I may yet come to regret these words....but so far, I love my comfrey!

[gardening_gal]

I wouldn't mind if I had an allotment or a huge garden, muddled, but I think it's a concern if the space is questionable. I really would appreciate the fertilising qualities of it though.

[Scoot]

Can anyone recommend a food seller on ebay where to get some seed from. I've had some right rubbish off ebay seed wise in the past.

[roitelet]

I have ordinary comfrey in the garden. If you don't let it set seed it isn't that invasive and seedlings can be weeded out.

[muddled]

I wouldn't mind if I had an allotment or a huge garden, muddled, but I think it's a concern if the space is questionable. I really would appreciate the fertilising qualities of it though.

My garden is dinky Garden Gal and Scoot, I think you get seeds from the invasive one but have to get a bit of root for bocking 14.
The seeds for that one are sterile which is why it doesn't overtake your garden.

[vixylix]

aaaw GG - keep posting until you find something everyone says yes to

[SusieG]

GG, don't get rid of it, it'll grow happily in a pot/tub ... There really are some great benefits with comfrey.
Great on the compost - tear some leaves off, leave them to 'dry out' on the ground for a few hours, then add them to the compost heap. Decomposes really quickly, so helping your compost along.

[Cadalot]

Comfrey is also known as the mining plant because it send the tap root deep down to get the goodness it needs, and we can exploit, so putting in a pot seems a little pointless to say the least. You just need Bocking 14 and somewhere out of the way where its hard to grow anything else.

[SusieG]

Comfrey is also known as the mining plant because it send the tap root deep down to get the goodness it needs, and we can exploit, so putting in a pot seems a little pointless to say the least. You just need Bocking 14 and somewhere out of the way where its hard to grow anything else.

I do know that comfrey has tap roots - I only said to keep it in a pot because GG has only minimal growing room!!!!!! And as she doesn't know what sort it is, and doesn't want a mass take-over, hence my advice......

[Scoot]

Can anyone recommend a food seller on ebay where to get some seed from. I've had some right rubbish off ebay seed wise in the past.

I meant seed seller not food seller.