Comfrey - Bocking 14

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

Hi all

One project for winter/spring is to create a comfrey bed and i am going for Bocking 14 as it is less invasive.  Before i do so has anyone had experience with it and what are the top tips?  I plan to use it to create a mulch between rows and a liquid feed through summer.  I'd love to hear other's experiences with it.

Psi

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

[tonybloke]

Bocking 14, tips and techniques.
1, create a well fertilised, weed-free bed. (this is a long-term crop)
2, pm me in the spring with your address for some root cuttings.

;)

[Pesky Wabbit]

Only plant half of what you'll think you need and then you'll still have more than you actually need.

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

Bocking 14, tips and techniques.
1, create a well fertilised, weed-free bed. (this is a long-term crop)
2, pm me in the spring with your address for some root cuttings.

;)

thanks tony - wonderful offer and I will take you up on it!  Sadly, I am excited to get going on it!

[tonybloke]

make sure that all perennial weeds (dock, couch grass, dandelion, etc) are removed, dig in plenty of organic matter / manure. cover with a mulch, wait 'til spring.
download this, http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/comfrey/comfrey.PDF.
that'll keep ya busy.

[kippers garden]

Tonybloke that was a really interesting download, thanks.

I use comfrey loads, infact this week i have been making a new comfrey bed as i use it loads.  I have dug and covered with weed suppressant and planted cutting throught it.

I don't use the 'block14' comfrey as money is always tight, so i used comfrey cuttings growing wild around the allotment.  I just make sure i cut down before it sets seed snd i haven't had any problems with it.

I use it in my compost as an activator and i use to feed all my plants, but i never thought to line my potato trenches with it, what a good idea i will try it

[Macy]

A comfrey bed was also on my agenda for the spring. I'm interested in plant half the amount you think comment - would 12 plants be way too many for (what appears to be) an average size plot? I was thinking liquid feed, under spuds, in and around tomato and bean plants, and then piling in the compost bin? Options from the supplier I've found here is 6 and 12 (well previous years, not selling yet this winter).

[Pesky Wabbit]

I planted 2 rows 2ft apart and 2ft in between rows (30 plants in total) believing comfrey to be the bees knees.

Year one the grew very well, as did year two, by year three they were so big I was supplying most of the allotment with the stuff. 

I was struggling to manage them and they were taking over.  Easy, I thought, just dig one row up. but now only has that row returned, its bigger ans stronger than ever before.

I think I'm stuck with the stuff. If only I'd planted half of what I thought I needed, then if I wanted more, I could have taken some of my own root cuttings. Would have been much cheaper.

[Macy]

Ok, thanks. I might consider putting the comfrey in another part of the garden.

[electric landlady]

I don't know if I've got Bocking 14 but my comfrey does grow VERY big. I cut it back at least once a month during the summer and it grows back equally massive each time. 12 plants would get you a LOT of comfrey...plus it does spread.

Make sure the bed you put it in is totally separated from the rest of your plot or it will take over. Also, be careful when handling the leaves and stems as they are prickly and can irritate the skin...well mine does, but maybe I have a particularly rampant and badly behaved sort of comfrey.