Comfrey not germinating

[rosheen]

Hi, I sowed comfrey seeds in Feb in the pollytunnel, new compost covered them and left them to get on with it. in March seeds were still sitting there doing nothing so | sowed some more - still nothing, sowed some more the other day is there something I should be doing I was under the impression they were a weed. Should I bring them into the airing cupboard, I have wanted Comfrey for ages and it is impossible to get as plants - can anyone help?

[Two_Sheds]

It's very possible to get as plants ... but it is only just starting to grow. (It dies back in the winter, and starts regrowing about now. I got mine from eBay) There are loads of posts on comfrey..have a go with the search button for more info.
Most people recommend the sterile variety Bocking 14. The "seed" stuff is a weed... you'll be digging it out forever. The Bocking 14 stays where you plant it.

[Snadger]

Hi, I sowed comfrey seeds in Feb in the pollytunnel, new compost covered them and left them to get on with it. in March seeds were still sitting there doing nothing so | sowed some more - still nothing, sowed some more the other day is there something I should be doing I was under the impression they were a weed. Should I bring them into the airing cupboard, I have wanted Comfrey for ages and it is impossible to get as plants - can anyone help?

If the seeds came from a bocking 14 plant it won't grow as they are sterile methinks.
I pinched a few seeds from some plants on what is now my plot when I had another plot (if that makes sense?) and they didn't germinate.................which leads me to believe I have inherited the bocking 14 strain, hopefully!

[rosheen]

Thanks Snadger, It didn't say what type it was on the seed packet, but they said it was for compost and to cut it up to 4 times a year etc., I just presumed it was the good stuff, anyway I spotted a little sprout to day. I have a lot of spare space so it can do it's worst. I don't think I can import plants.

[Snadger]

Thanks Snadger, It didn't say what type it was on the seed packet, but they said it was for compost and to cut it up to 4 times a year etc., I just presumed it was the good stuff, anyway I spotted a little sprout to day. I have a lot of spare space so it can do it's worst. I don't think I can import plants.

Hi rosheen,
If you bought the seeds they must be from a bona fide supplier and they should germinate. It could be that Bocking 14 is an F1 hybrid achieved by crossing two strains. Maybe the seeds from this cross will germinate to give you plants which grow and produce sterile seed? Sounds daft, but all things are possible!

[tenpin]

Hi, I sowed comfrey seeds in Feb in the pollytunnel, new compost covered them and left them to get on with it. in March seeds were still sitting there doing nothing so | sowed some more - still nothing, sowed some more the other day is there something I should be doing I was under the impression they were a weed. Should I bring them into the airing cupboard, I have wanted Comfrey for ages and it is impossible to get as plants - can anyone help?

Hi Rosheen,
I potted up some Blocking 14 comfrey roots and they are only just poking through the soil. The research I did prior to buying these roots indicated that seed germination was very poor. Good luck though.
Jo

[marialittlebzz]

I bought some seeds as well but they recommend to plant in autumn because the seeds needs stratification to germinate... well I will try for next year so I can't tell if that is the problem with yours...