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i've got some comfrey roots which i bought on ebay for my allotment ,is it invasive?should i grow it in pots to get the best crop or plant it in a patch on the allotment? help needed haven't got a clue.i just know its good for compost and tea for the plants.its not the self seeding type.:confused

No If it's the Russian bocking 17 (or whatever its called...poor memory sorry) and non seeding it shouldn't be too invasive as that's how it gets about, but It is VERY difficult to dig out once established- so make sure that you choose the right spot.

Hopeless in pots because it draws nutrients from deep in the soil -making them available to you...in pots you would have to feed it and thus defeat the object.

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Paul

Grow it on the poorest soil you have, and drown them in. If possible, on a bit of waste land round the plots.

Bocking 14 won't seed everywhere - it's sterile.
It prefers damp shady ground. Not poor, dry or stony soil. Don't let it flower in its first year to help it establish itself (it will try to; just cut the flower spikes off and compost them).

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Bought 6 plants for £4 off internet.....and once in the ground they have gone great guns.
I didn't have room for 2 which have stayed in pots and are a third of the size and rather weedy. The root system is the thing for reaching the parts other plants cannot reach -I agree with all above!

Now, do you let them flower and can I plant them under trees?

thanks for all advice will plant them in allotment .

We have just planted a clump on our allotment, but dont know if it is the Bocking 14 ... is there any way to tell?

Where'd you get it from? If it was dug out of someone's garden, it's probably not Bocking 14, which is usually labelled as such (by those in the know )

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Interesting post since I just this weekend gone got some seed from T&M. Herb : Comfrey
the blurb says

The leaves, which can be harvested several times a season, are used as a compost activator helping the breakdown of other compost materials. Also used as a mulch, or is superb used as a liquid manure on tomato and potatoes plants. Grows in any soil, preferably moist, in sun or part shade. Height to 120cm (4ft).

No mention of any sort of bocking. hmm, maybe I'll email T&M and ask them just to make sure

FoxHill - Bocking14 is sterile, it doesn't make seed.

It still flowers, but it's firing blanks (think like: it's had a vasectomy)
Cut the flowers off in its first year so it can put all its energy into making roots. After that, you cut the flowers off anyway with the leaves to put on your compost heap or into tea.

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so that's self-seeded comfrey all over the garden then, unless I'm very diligent. Anyone want to swap some seeds?

Does bocking 14 not flower at all, or just not produce seed?

My bocking 14 is certainly flowering but I've snipped them all off on Two Sheds advice!

I think we got it from Garden Organic at Ryton, but we bought so much last year I am not certain - it is in flower now with purple flowers, does that mean it will seed?

Bocking 14 flowers just the seed is sterile...jaffas you know. Stop panicking all!..just chop off any flowers if you dont want your non hybrid comfrey to seed, even if it does it is easy to get rid of the seedlings like any other weed. It is only once it is established that it is a real pain to shift ...bit like docks I guess.

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Paul

I appear to have two kinds of comfrey in my patch. Some are short with purple flowers, others are taller with whitish flowers. Both are a huge hit with bees, i watch them for hours, the clump is alive with them, its wonderful. I know some are mean't to be Bocking (well they all were), question is which ones?

I'm in the same boat Poozie (long time, no see, by the way How are you?) I have both types, but the bees aren't bothered, they like 'em all! I just leave them to it, any that spring up outside their 'allotted space' get weeded out

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I definitely have Bocking 14 (I've had it for years, it's never seeded anywhere)
The flowers are purple (although I don't let them all flower, as the plants are cropped for the compost heap)

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I'm doing ok thanks Sarzwix. Had to direct my husband with instructions for allotment from my hospital bed last year, seemed to be there all year (I have cystic fibrosis and am awaiting a lung transplant). However i'm stronger this year, and despite our allotment being a bit of a mess last year everyone was really supportive, and the upside of it is my hubby is now really keen on it and enjoys it.

This year is much better and we have loads growing. Its really therapeutic for me, I have to forward plan so don't find myself getting drawn into the negative thinking, that many of my fellow sufferers do. And the gentle weeding that I do helps with my fitness. All good.

Hi all on our new allotment I was really pleased to find I had some comfrey saved me spending our pennies on buying some in!

Now I know it has massive roots but as it's in a funny place on the site would I be able to remove it with the help of Mr.Pickaxe and replant it further down in a boggy part of our plot? Hel.xxx.

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If anyone wants any, and fancies a drive (as none of you live near me!) I have tons of the stuff!!! I have tried hard not to dig it up, as I know it is beneficial, but plan to chop at least one up for the compost bin and would like to move it to a better place for me.
I may even make plant food with it this summer holiday.
It certainly is a bee magnet, love the way the buzz changes when they are deep in the flowers.
Wonder if I should offer any on freeshare?

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I got some of the bocking comfrey several years ago and it's fantastic.I put it at the bottom of the trenches when I put the seed potatoes in,just put leaves around all the veg as a mulch,get great results.I haven't made the liquid fertiliser out of it,have always intended to.

I inherited a bed of comfrey with my new allotment this year - yes the bees love it and yes I'm sure its great compost but it gets EVERYWHERE!!!! I'm sick and tired of digging it up from absolutely everywhere on my lottie - how on earth do you control the stuff??!

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If it's not the bocking 14 stuff, which it can't be as the seeds are sterile, I would imagine using it for compost/tea will give you five crops a year and as long as you dont let it flower and set seed it should be stopped in it's tracks!

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