Comfrey

[northener]

Hello is this Comfrey ? I've found it on a vacant plot at the lottie.

[northener]

[return of the mac]

Looks like it- lucky you. You can make great compost or liquid feed from that stuff.

[redimp]

I wish I could find a pile like that.  I have to wait a year before I can harvest any of mine.  :(

[wardy]

Go and have a look round in the locale - your'e bound to find some just lying about that no-one is tending  :)

I could send you a Bocking 14 but it won't be ready yet either.  I have in my garden a very tall (Russian comfrey) I think and it has huge leaves which I just strip off and use in the compost bin and on top of the soil, round plants etc.  the bocking though is specially bred to be the best and I got it from the Organic catalogue.  Whether it turns out in any way superior to the common or garden ones who knows  :)

[northener]

Wardy what colour flowers does the bocking 14 have?

[philcooper]

Bocking 14 has several advantages over wild comfrey:

It is sterile so doesn't set seed so doesn't spread
It doesn't spread by roots either
The potash content of the leaves is the highest of any comfrey - this was found in trials run by Lawrence Hills at the original HDRA site at Bocking, Essex; it was the 14th hybrid tested, hence Bocking 14

Don't buy it - many folk will give it away.

If anyone wants any root cuttings let me know - they will produce plants from which you can harvest leaves next year - meanwhile use any wild ones you can find, they produce much better (and cheaper) liquid fertiliser than any you can buy

Phil

[northener]

Phil, like i say this stuff is on a unoccupied lottie. I reckon it must be bocking 14 type because it hasn't spread all over. How and when is the best time to take some of the root. In the meantime i'm going to use some of the leaves to make a fertiliser.

[raisedbedted]

Yes some propogation tips would be great - I have some but the dog keeps eating it?! 

Also how is it best to make liquid manure - I tried last year with a mixture of nettles and comfrey (the bit the dog left) and the resultant black liquid stunk so much I was 'asked' to get rid of it.

I put it in a bucket with some bricks on top and left it for a couple of weeks, is that right?

Adrian

[wardy]

you then have to dilute the resultant black liquid by between 10 and 20 times  :)

I don;t know what colour the Bocking 14's have Northerner but then you don't grow it for its flowers  ;D

[return of the mac]

Phil just got the stuff you sent me thanks loads, i owe you one (or two)
Cheers
John

[redimp]

Can comfrey cope with freshish manure or does it have to be well rotted?

[Ceri]

wardy - you mentioned you put the leaves on top of the soil - I thought you shouldn't put uncomposted stuff on the soil - is comfrey different?  I've got a self seeded comfrey plant in my garden and this sounds a great idea.

[legless]

my comfrey which i assume is bocking 14 as i let it flower and it hasn't self seeded anywhere has purpley/blue flowers.

i cut leaves and leave them to wilt slightly then put them direct on the ground around my leeks to prevent rust

[Macca]

Phil, any chance of sending me some? I would be eternally grateful

[Moggle]

Phil, the comfrey cuttings you sent me a while ago are rooting  ;D ;D
Yes, I got impatient and dug one up  ::)
Thanks again  :D

[wardy]

Comfrey leaves can be used in loads of ways and using them fresh is just one of them.  I covered up my potato leaves up the other night with comfrey leaves as they are cheaper than fleece  ;D   They act as a plant food and you can event underplant veg and shrubs with them.  I have a very large Russian comfrey at home which has enormous leaves. I  take them off and use them at the back of the border as fresh compost.  You can put them in your compost bin and they do break down very quickly and act as an activator (as do nettles)
So no, (after all that rambling) they don't really need to be composted first.  use sparingly though as they are a bit strong  ;D

[redimp]

Can comfrey cope with freshish manure or does it have to be well rotted?

Anybody?  ???

[wardy]

I don't think you need put manure round your comfrey  :)

[philcooper]

Macca,

If you send me a PM with your address and how many you want I'll send some but if anyone else wants any can we leave it til next year - I'll put an offer on the list then - promise

Comfrey does benefit from muck, it draws some nutrients (mainly potash) from its tap root but it still needs a lot of feed in order to produce the leaves (if you harvest them)

Phil

[Marianne]

It's growing like a weed round here !! :P