I needed to move our comfrey to the allotment and dug up one of four plants, then propogated it into 90!
(http://steverandles.co.uk/alottment/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/0021.jpg)
Plants for free, you gotta love that!
Steve...:)
Gosh..that's some amount of new plants. I wonder how many more you are going to 'harvest' from the old spot..? :-\
Thats a lot of plants! We have comfrey coming up all over our new plot, keep digging it up and putting it all in one spot, good stuff but dont really want it EVERYWHERE! :-\
That's why most people prefer "Bocking 14" (I think that's right) as it doesn't self-seed so much.
My Bocking 14 hasn't seeded at all, the same 2 plants come up each year. Really must get round to doing some root cuttings ::) ;D
Same here Taurus ;D. I have 3 plants thanks to Tonybloke. I might bring some home for the wildlife & the chickens ::).
90 plants! That's a serious amount. Are you planning on having a comfrey farm?
I've got some root cuttings on order (had asked a friend but don't like to nag as I know they're busy people) and a packet of seeds.
I'm going to plant all the seeds and see how many plants I get.
I assume if it grows from seed then it sets seed though...
We have some edges around our allotment that might be good for putting comfrey.
Sarah the seeds will be the one that spreads like wildfire. The bocking is the best one, unless of course it doesn't matter about the spread. I pick up lots of seedlings on our plot from next door & chuck it in the composter.
They only set seeds if allowed to flower. So any comfrey that is harvested often enough is not going to be problem with self seeding...untill you decide to move a plant.. :-X But then its not about seeding anymore..but multiplying by roots..
It's Bocking 14, essentially a sterile plant and only propogates by root division, so no worries about it seeding itself around.
I have a beck running down the back of my plot and I erected a back fence a couple of yards away from that..bascally joining onto the two plots fences either side of me. But they both have problems with weed growing up the back fence, particularly himalayan balsam so I have built a gate in this back fence and will have a comfrey plantation between the stream and my plot, as well as a comfrey bed inside the plot too. The comfrey will help keep the weeds under control and give me plenty to feed the plot with too, any excess plants will be given away to other plot holders.
I've already given enough root away for another 30 plants, all this from one plant entering it's third year. Comfrey Propogation (http://steverandles.co.uk/alottment/?p=635)
Steve...:)
Quote from: grannyjanny on April 14, 2012, 13:05:41
Sarah the seeds will be the one that spreads like wildfire. The bocking is the best one, unless of course it doesn't matter about the spread. I pick up lots of seedlings on our plot from next door & chuck it in the composter.
I'm wondering whether an unloved alley is fair game for planting some seeding comfrey in.
We have sections of our site that are communal and would be great filled with comfrey. If it started to impede on people's plot then that might be a nuisance though as someone says if it's cropped it'll never get to flower anyway.
I will see how many plants I get when the seed arrives :)
Sounds like a good idea. The lady next to me lets hers flower hence the spread. It certainly helps the compost break down quicker too.
I was very excited when I heard about comfrey bocking 14, when I found a website that sells the cuttings I immediately placed my order for 5 cuttings. The cost is about £ 7.90 or there abouts. I never heard from them for about 3 months, then I contacted them and they claimed to have delivered the goods . I assured them I never received any cuttings whatsoever from them. They lay the blame on the postal service ! Then I pester them again, finally they sent me 5 minute stumps no bigger than a thumb nail, so I potted them individually and can't wait for it to grow and that was 3mths ago, just before writing this I went into the greenhouse to inspect it once again and in fact emptied all the pots needless to say I feel very angry and cheated to have been taken for a ride. They were very quick to take my money when I placed the order. The company I'm referring to is tomato seeds uk !
That's such a shame Arumlily, to be ripped of like that. I bought my initial stock online and they where the same as yours tiny pieces of root, four out of five grew though. I would contact them again and ask for replacements as it should readily grow away with no problems.
Steve...:)
Quote from: Arumlily on April 16, 2012, 16:06:58
I was very excited when I heard about comfrey bocking 14, when I found a website that sells the cuttings I immediately placed my order for 5 cuttings. The cost is about £ 7.90 or there abouts. I never heard from them for about 3 months, then I contacted them and they claimed to have delivered the goods . I assured them I never received any cuttings whatsoever from them. They lay the blame on the postal service ! Then I pester them again, finally they sent me 5 minute stumps no bigger than a thumb nail, so I potted them individually and can't wait for it to grow and that was 3mths ago, just before writing this I went into the greenhouse to inspect it once again and in fact emptied all the pots needless to say I feel very angry and cheated to have been taken for a ride. They were very quick to take my money when I placed the order. The company I'm referring to is tomato seeds uk !
sorry to hear about your plight. i've some spare from when i've done with swaps i've done on here recently. if you want to send me an SAE, and i can send you this week. PM me if you're interested. they're coming into growth quite vigorously with all this rain we're getting. so don't buy anymore. gardenorganics is a realiable place to buy from.
Ordered cuttings from Ebay £3.99 free postage yesterday.
Nice one, I have sold three lots of 6 cuttings for £3 each to plot holders who insisted on paying for them! Bonus!
Steve...:)