Comfrey
 

Any body growing it , I hear its a great companion planting for Fruit trees Plant it at the drip line.... It is a biodynamic accumulator that creates its own mulch. Great addition to your compost.... I would like to acquire a few root cuttings of the Blocking 14 if any one is growing it ....

Re: Comfrey
 

I ended up getting it last year, and it is extremely easy to propagate.

This year I already have 100+ plants that should be a mature size starting out. There's no way for me to dig them out with 3+ feet of snow in upstate NY so they would have to wait though. I really don't mind digging out a few plants since they are so easy to split as long as there are pups on the side.

What kind of bananas, or other tropical plants do you have?

Here's the thread where I documented growing them.
http://www.bambooweb.info/bb/viewtop...=6689&start=15

Re: Comfrey
 

Yes i feel for ya bitter cold 50F here tonight ...
I hear when you dig them up if you miss any roots they will regrow, so I would be happy with some nice root cuttings more than happy to pay postage..
I have Hua moa, Ice cream, D nam wah, Raja puri with pups ,HM is my best bet as it is fairly short cycle banana, Med height thin stalk should do ok in a big pot it doesnt pup much .

I grow Bromeliads, Brugmansia and Plumeria ...
Im in no hurry, let me know If anything interests you

Re: Comfrey
 

Comfrey is a weed here, can't get rid of it - I've been trying for about 5 years. And it propagates very easily.....just let is go to seed or split the roots, meaning if you miss a piece it WILL come back.

However I had a really great recipe for making hand lotion that I have misplaced (this is why I allowed it to grow for as long as I did). Now I only allow it to grow in the rocks - as in fist sized - by the neighbor's fence for the bees :)

Re: Comfrey
 

There are many horticultural myths about this plant, and about "companion plants" in general.

For fruit trees and other edible crops Comfrey has some value. This means that you grow several acres of it and compost it -- for example as required by California CDFA statutes for mulch. Growing it adjacent to your fruit trees simply robs them of nitrogen.

Re: Comfrey
 

My actual plan was to expand the mulched area around my peach and apple trees. I was told to plant at or beyond the drip line . Wouldn't this put the comfrey outside of the root zone ?
I would be happy just growing it, green manure for compost and as mulch , Blocking 14 doesnt produce viable seed so not invasive as the common type ....

Re: Comfrey
 

But the roots grow very quickly and deeply (kind of like morning glory), and once established the plant will quickly expand, getting bigger every year. Handle with care!

"......Comfrey is a fast-growing plant, producing huge amounts of leaf during the growing season, and hence is very nitrogen hungry. Although it will continue to grow no matter what,.........Despite being sterile, Bocking 14 Russian Comfrey will steadily increase in size. It is therefore advisable to split it up every few years (and at the same time propagate more plants that can be shared with fellow gardeners!). It is however difficult to remove comfrey once established as it is very deep rooting, and any fragments left in the soil will regrow. Rotovation can be successful, but may take several seasons. The best way to eradicate comfrey is to very carefully dig it out, removing as much of the root as possible. This is best done in hot, dry summer weather, wherein the dry conditions will help to kill off any remaining root stumps. Comfrey is generally trouble free once established, although weaker or stressed plants can suffer from comfrey rust or mildew..........."

Re: Comfrey
 

The drip line of perennials is their most important root zone.

Re: Comfrey
 

Some where I read that Comfrey is a medicinal plant for chickhens.

Re: Comfrey
 

I'm interested in trading some comfrey for a plumeria plant. I'm finding that bocking 14 is pretty dependable, and I've never tried to get rid of it since they are just planted at the base of fruit trees to stay indefinitely.

Re: Comfrey
 

It seem to be a very useful plant it is used to treat stomach problems in some animals , To make a salve for skin .
I just want a plant I can grow near my trees , that I can cut a few times a year and use for mulch , compost... and teas

Re: Comfrey
 

ck your PM

Re: Comfrey
 

I'll be happy to trade you comfrey. I grow the traditional (medicinal) true comfrey - not blocking or Russian. It's true that it spreads, but I've not found it to be wildly aggressive - I've had much more problems with St. John's wort. It definitely increases area each year, but doesn't show up all over the yard. It is persistent, however. I pulled all mine out and moved it last fall, and expect it to take years, if at all, to completely eradicate it from its previous area. Each root that breaks becomes a new plant. Overall I like it and have been glad to have
it - it's beautiful, covers itself in purple flowers, and makes copious amounts of mulch-able leaves. Just know that at least in my zone ...once you have it, you will always have it, and so wil the people you sell your house to.