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When to harvest comfrey?

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  • #1

    When to harvest comfrey?

    My first year of comfrey growing, after planting some blocking 14 roots last year.

    They've come up quite bushy so far, about 6inches big now. Just wondered if I was supposed to wait until it flowered before I cut it for the tea, or whether I should just use the leaves.

    I've got some potatoes still to go in, and wanted to line the trench wi leaf mould and comfrey leaves, but not many leaves to speak of!

    Many thanks.
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  • #2
    No, you don't wait till it flowers. Just cut leaves as and when you need them. I agree six inches tall is too early to be cutting, but it will soon get growing.

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    • #3
      I've stripped my leaves off about 4 times this growing season. And have comfrey tea on the boil as well. As soon as you get some heat they'll be off.
      Ali

      My blog: feral007.com/countrylife/

      Some days it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints!

      One bit of old folklore wisdom says to plant tomatoes when the soil is warm enough to sit on with bare buttocks. In surburban areas, use the back of your wrist. Jackie French

      Member of the Eastern Branch of the Darn Under Nutter's Club

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      • #4
        It's Bocking 14; and yes you can cut now and it will regrow back with a vengeance. If you need them for the bottom of potato trenches and haven't got many leaves, why not use a bulb planter instead of a trench and just pop a shredded handful in with the spud?

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        • #5
          I must get some bocking 14. Is it best to buy as root cuttings or can I get them as seeds?

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          • #6
            Originally posted by sammy_roser View Post
            I must get some bocking 14. Is it best to buy as root cuttings or can I get them as seeds?

            Bocking 14 is only available as Root Cuttings, it is the most suitable for using as it doesn't set seed; so it doesn't self seed everywhere. Hence not being available as seed.

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            • #7
              The Linear Legume: Comfrey and Nettle Gunk Pipes

              Zaz dearest, can you tell me about your comfrey gunk pipes? Are they just drainpipes with a plant pot at the bottom?

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              • #8
                Ive got masses of the stuff. Its gorgeous and the insects all love it. I was reading up on it last night in bed (after I had planted my spuds) typical lol.
                Anyway, I am going to make some tea with it. I also read that its ok to put rhubarb in with the comfry to make the tea and it gives it a bit more va va voom! anybody else heard this?
                Ohhh I want to more about the gunk pipes.
                Lynne x

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                • #9
                  How long does it take to come up? I got some and put it into pots to get it going before planting out, but it's not come up after 3 (?) weeks.
                  Garden Grower
                  Twitter: @JacobMHowe

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                  • #10
                    I bought some cuttings from fleebay at end of Feb and stuck them in pots of MPC in the unheated greenhouse and they've gone crazy!

                    They're now outside and I'm trying to work out whereabouts on the plot I'm going to put them all... can't wait to start making tea... I do like a good brew!
                    http://vegblogs.co.uk/overthyme/

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by wizzbang View Post
                      Ive got masses of the stuff. Its gorgeous and the insects all love it. I was reading up on it last night in bed (after I had planted my spuds) typical lol.
                      Anyway, I am going to make some tea with it. I also read that its ok to put rhubarb in with the comfry to make the tea and it gives it a bit more va va voom! anybody else heard this?
                      Ohhh I want to more about the gunk pipes.
                      Lynne x
                      Don't think rhubarb leaves have much food value. Be better to put them on the compost heap.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by vikkib View Post
                        They're now outside and I'm trying to work out whereabouts on the plot I'm going to put them all... can't wait to start making tea... I do like a good brew!
                        I'm planting mine on the edges of the plot. Got one huge clump at the moment, but this morning I split some offshoots and started planting along the fence.

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                        • #13
                          I noticed regrowth yesterday, about three or four inches. No rush for me, because I have quite a bit of comfrey tea left from the Autumn. T'other strange thing to note is that I now like the smell of it. Weird.
                          Last edited by Florence Fennel; 03-05-2013, 02:00 PM.
                          Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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                          • #14
                            I heard that Rhubarb leaves can be used to make an effective organic insecticide for any of the leaf eating insects by putting them in water.

                            Was trying to buy some comfrey of a bidding site but forgot to bid at the last moment Wish I knew a shop I could walk in and buy some from.

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                            • #15
                              I was thinking I might make some tea in a sealed container, to avoid the smell. Anyone got any suggestions?

                              And definitely want to know more about the gunk pipes!

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