Comfrey

[jackyspratty]

Hi all. We are starting up a new lotty and want to include a comfrey patch to make comfrey tea. I think I read somewhere that bocking 14 is the sort to get as it isn't invasive. So far I can only firnd this in plant form at organic catologe. My friend says that he has found russian comfrey seed that seems the same thing? Does anyone know if it the same as I'd hate to put something in that spreads easily?
Many thanks

[Alison]

Bocking 14 doesn't spread as it has sterile seeds and therefore you can't grow it from seed. As a result any variety that you can buy seeds for will spread like a weed - look at river banks in spring and you'll see what I mean. I bought some root cuttings last year and potted them up before planting on the plot. Fingers crossed they'll come good this year and start to produce a decent crop in the next year or so.

[Nicos]

To be honest, it doesn't bother me that it'll spread- you just weed it out if it's growing in the wrong place. There's always a lot of demand in the compost and for making 'tea' You've got to weed something out- might as well be something useful which you can transplant if you want a bit more to grow!
You just nip out the flowers every so often!

[Alison]

To be honest, it doesn't bother me that it'll spread- you just weed it out if it's growing in the wrong place. There's always a lot of demand in the compost and for making 'tea' You've got to weed something out- might as well be something useful which you can transplant if you want a bit more to grow!
You just nip out the flowers every so often!

I work on the principle that I have enough weeding to do as it is without introducing any more.

[Jeanied]

We have comfrey growing all over the lottie site - originally from a so-called batch of Bocking 14 which has self seeded everywhere: so I don't think it is infallible!
I agree with Nicos - it all comes in useful and the bees absolutely love the flowers!

[Nicos]

I work on the principle that I have enough weeding to do as it is without introducing any more.

Hmmmm..but if something is going to grow- I'd rather it was comfrey than thistle!!!

[Glutton4...]

You'll laugh at this, but we struggle to get Comfrey to grow here! There's loads of it wild, but it doesn't like our little patch of heaven

[Comfreyfan]

I've got the seed itself type - in a lot of places around the garden, it doesn't bother me! I rip it up if I feel like it and if I've got enough 'tea' on the go I pile any left overs on the compost heap - it's excellent there. If I don't feel like it and leave it to grow a bit longer, then it flowers and is really pretty and like Jeanied says the bees adore it.
I use it in various lotions and potions too - so many uses for it, I've never had too much Comfrey!

[Two_Sheds]

you just weed it out if it's growing in the wrong place.

It's got a very deep tap root, and like docks and horseradish, will regrow from any scrap of root left in the ground.
It's not at all easy to eradicate if you decide it's in the wrong place.

[jackyspratty]

It's got a very deep tap root, and like docks and horseradish, will regrow from any scrap of root left in the ground.
It's not at all easy to eradicate if you decide it's in the wrong place.

Hmm, we have just decided not to grow horseradish beacuse of the roots and spreading nature even though me and my digging partner both love it, so maybe this will be the same? Also our new quarter plot is in the process of being cleared of couch grass, covered in it, so I don't really want to introduce another deep rooted spreading devil!

We do want to grow comfrey so bocking 14 it will have to be. Just have to convince my growing partner that the cost is worth it!
Many thanks for the advice, as ever if you find something that is too good to be true it usuually is! As usual a lively debate but will go on the catious side, especially since had a bad slip on the ice and my back can't take more digging than needed!

[jackyspratty]

I've got the seed itself type - in a lot of places around the garden, it doesn't bother me! I rip it up if I feel like it and if I've got enough 'tea' on the go I pile any left overs on the compost heap - it's excellent there. If I don't feel like it and leave it to grow a bit longer, then it flowers and is really pretty and like Jeanied says the bees adore it.
I use it in various lotions and potions too - so many uses for it, I've never had too much Comfrey!

Hmm, then again, our garden has a steep bank at the end of it, pretty wilde with a multitude of brambles and old trees, does it grow in shady conditions?
If its pretty and bees love it, could maybe introduce the self seeding typre there and then make tea to take to the plot?

Also what potions and lotions do you make comfrey fan, you have me intrigued now!

[Comfreyfan]

I've got a good clump growing in a shady spot. TS is right it does deep root (up to 3metres), and if you notice a plant growing it's probably there for good! I put my first plant in over 20 years ago and although I've probably now got 20 or more (the garden is over 100' long), if it's somewhere I really don't want it I pull all the leaves off and as much root out as possible and it doesn't get too big.

Comfrey has excellent skin healing and soothing properties, so I use a simple infusion to soften rough skin, nice in a foot soak or as a hand rinse or use it in a shower scrub - any combination of herbs, oats, milk powder in a muslin bag. Macerate (steep the leaves) in warmed petroleum jellyfor about 45 mins, strain, leave it to set and it makes a good balm for scrapes and scratches.
Some people find Russian Comfrey a skin irritant though, so it's always best to try it out first - you can do this quite easily by putting a bit of leaf on a plaster and sticking it to your inner arm for 24 hours to see if you react.

It's been used for a very long time, it's been known for centuries as 'knitbone' and was used for broken bones and the Romans called it conferva (join together) - hence our name Comfrey.

I'm sure I've read a thread on here that someone was using piles of comfrey leaves around plants as a barrier against slugs - haven't tried it yet, but definitely will!

Oops, went on a bit - I really am a fan

[jackyspratty]

Hey thats great! By going as you put it, you have convinced me to get the seed and try it in the bank! It tends to be the overgrown bit or the garde anyway as its pretty brambley. Like the idea of making more than just a garden feed with it too, so you've sold me onit! But I take full responsibility for the spreading nature or the plant and knowingly enter into it, hence not growing it on the plot!!!
Thankyou very much

[Two_Sheds]

We do want to grow comfrey so bocking 14 it will have to be. Just have to convince my growing partner that the cost is worth it!

I got my first root cutting on eBay for about a quid. With that, I propagated my own from root cuttings, it's simples.

does it grow in shady conditions?

Yes, it prefers shade to full sun
You could sow some borage too in your wild patch, which has similar properties to the comfrey

[NSB]

I sent about 20 lots of comfrey roots to fello grapes, if u can wait for it to start growing again I can send you some root at the moment its not doing anything, but if you pm me your address ill send you some when it starts growing again.