comfrey feed

[FatB]

Sorry Mandylew, couple of things I forgot! We've been going for some years now and we've never fed the bed anything at all, I think it must fertilise itself somehow. We store it in rinsed out six pint milk cartons, you know, the plastic type, and then keep them in the shade 'til they're used. Cheers. FatB.

[red pepper]

If you have enough you can just use the leaves as a mulch. Where my allotment is we have some spare/unused allotments that have alot of comfrey growing on them. Earlier in the year i watered my potatoes and then mulched between the rows with a combination of comfrey and grass clippings. The comfrey was just pulled as it came - leaves, stems etc. Where i am digging the new potatoes now all there is left is traces of the thicker parts of the comfrey. Earlier in the year here when it was hot this not only fed the potatoes, but get them moist aswell.
Another way i use comfrey is by filling a water but with comfrey, adding some water and letting it rot for a while before draining off the liquid for use diluted in my watering can. You can add nettles to the mix - however this will make it smell. Finally, i mix comfrey leaves in the compost heap to help the processes in that - it does appear to help with the composting.

I do have comfrey in my allotment, however it is the 'Bocking 14' plant that does not spread.

[FatB]

Ah! The one we've got we've had for some time and my resident expert seems to remember it was called Russian Comfrey. Presumably then this is different to Bocking 14. Will the results from using it be any different as I think we're stuck with it now, big job getting it all out and replanting with the one mentioned. Any advice would be appreciated. Regards, FatB.

[red pepper]

Hi there

The only difference is that Bocking 14 was developed as a plant that will not spread like the Russian variety and it was named after where it was developed by one of the early organic society people (i think).

[Johnboy]

Hi Red Pepper,
Both Bocking 4 and Bocking 14 are Russian Comfrey's
developed by the Late Lawrence Hills the founder of the HDRA in the late 1950's.
JB.

[gowerbass come gardener]

hi all havent long joined this board.

right i am new to gardening this year and i just do veg and the wife tends to the flowers,but i have just bought 5 comfrey plants(blocking 14) and put them into pots.once the start to estaablish them selves can they be repotted or is it best to plant them in the ground.i am looking at using them has a tomato and potato feed for next year

[oldherbaceous]

Firstly a warm welcome to the forum g.c.g.
As for the Comfrey, i would definately plant them in the ground, then all you have to worry about is cutting it four or five times a year.

[gowerbass come gardener]

thank you for the welcome oldherbaceous,and thank you for the speedy advice.

[Vegman]

For comfrey, I put the concentrate in my Superspray Hose end feeder at 300ml and top up with water to 600ml. I spray onto the plants so the leaves are 'wet' easier than using a watering can.

[Johnboy]

Hi Vegman,
How do you make your concentrate?
JB.