comfrey becoming a weed

[Mike_E_from_NZ]

Just to pinpoint that book further:

Hills, Lawrence D.
Russian Comfrey: A Hundred Tons an Acre of Stock or Compost for Farm, Garden or Smallholding.

http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrar ... lcome.html

[Cornonthecob]

That be the one!

I just went and picked some comfrey to give to the chooks/ducks and turkeys.....the ducks went wild over it, turkeys didn't do to bad...I think the chooks ate theirs just so no one else would get it!

Will keep an eye on them and all going well will give them a feed of comfrey every few days or so....depends on how quickly my plants can grow back!

[cathy]

Hi,

Well Nicole inspired me to stop lurking as well. I so often search the internet for information on growing vegetables and herbs and find something useful at this forum. This time I was looking for info on growing comfrey and Nicole's post was spot on. I too am keen to try comfrey for its composting value, but am also concerned about it becoming a problem plant. Since we have good soil, plenty of rain and no frosts I am concerned it will invade the whole garden.

Nonetheless, I have just planted a punnet of seed (knowing that this is quite hard but thought I'd give it a try since I haven't seen it for sale and don't know anyone who has it). I'm still trying to decide where to put it. I had initially thought of using it as a summer green manure in a new bed we are making, but not sure if that is a good idea. Anyway, I have a little while before I decide (assuming any grows) so any further comments or experiences would be most welcome.

[Michaelangelica]

Russian Comfrey is the one most usually used and it is sterile and does not produce seed.

I have seen a plant of C. officinalis in Tasmania, this may produce seed (pretty white flowers)
also
at a garden/nursery in Bowrel a small almost ground cover variety with pretty flowers -very attractive.
Animals sometimes need to be encouraged to get past the prickly leaves. You can rub the leaves between two tea-towels to remove prickles or let it wilt a bit. Most animals love it once they have a taste for it.
A friend of mine at Dural (organic gardener/farmer) fed her chooks on comfey all all the time. (she had run her plough/rottery-hoe though a plant years before and now had it everywhere)
She had a visit from the dept of Ag Inspectors telling her not to use so much yellow dye to make her egg yokes so yellow. Of course, she didn't use dye, just lots of comfrey but the Ag Inspectors didn't believe her!!

Comfrey rarely becomes invasive unless you chop up the roots and spread them around. It usually just grows into a bigger clump each year.

I thought comfrey was indestructible but this year a bad infestation of caterpillars, of my plant in a pot killed it.

I would be grateful for a root of Russian comfrey (any type). Can swap

[cathy]

Hi Michaelangelica,

Russian Comfrey is the one most usually used and it is sterile and does not produce seed

Hmmm... I just checked the seed I have (from Diggers) it is C. Symphytum x uplandicum. A search on the internet turned up this page: http://www.herbherbert.com/pdf/comfrey.pdf., which says the following:

"Another species of comfrey frequently found in gardens is Russian comfrey, Symphytum x uplandicum, which is a cross between common comfrey and the prickly comfrey (S. asperum) found in Russia. It grows to 1.75 metres and has rose-purple coloured corollas which are 2 cm long."

So if that site is correct, it sounds like I have seeds of Russian Comfrey. The instructions say to sow then place in fridge for two weeks (which I did yesterday) so I'll see what happens.

Edit: having read the above document further, it also says:

"Comfrey rarely sets seed and is usually propagated by root division.
It will also grow from a leaf cutting though is not usually done. Each
piece of root taken from comfrey will produce a new plant
irrespective of whether or not the piece has a growth bud attached.
This causes problems when cultivating this herb in that any piece left
in the ground after harvesting will sprout and become a potential
weed. It quickly overtakes surrounding plants if allowed to spread.
Comfrey must, therefore, be planted in a permanent position where
it is unlikely to compete for soil resources with other plants.
Provided its root is not disturbed, however, it will remain under
control."

and

"In spite of its reputation as a troublesome weed comfrey can be eradicated from the garden during the growing season if all leaves are removed as they appear and the ground above the root heavily mulched."

So I think that confirms what others said here. Looks like I'll be finding a quiet, unused area and planting my comfrey there permanently.

[FREE Permaculture]

Hi all,
yay comfrey talk!

[scottie]

Hi cathy,

The instructions say to sow then place in fridge for two weeks (which I did yesterday) so I'll see what happens.

I recently sowed some Comfrey seeds which I ordered from the Diggers Club too. I planted 9 seeds in small individual pots & put them in the fridge for 2 weeks (as per the instructions) & then moved them into the greenhouse. Well, after ~4 weeks 1 of the 9 comfrey seeds sprouted. It's now ~3 months since sowing & I've still only 1 out of 9 growing & even he's starting to look yellow & stunted.

Anyway, about a month ago I planted another 7 Comfrey seeds in small individual pots & put them straight in the greenhouse (no fridge) & whadayaknow! 2 out of 7 sprouted & are thriving! They've surpassed (in size) the Comfrey I (initially) put in the fridge months ago & are looking very healthy.

Just thought you'd like to hear someone else's experience with growing the same seed.

Good luck with your Comfrey.

Scott.

[Michaelangelica]

Hi Michaelangelica,

Russian Comfrey is the one most usually used and it is sterile and does not produce seed

Hmmm... I just checked the seed I have (from Diggers) it is C. Symphytum x uplandicum. A search on the internet turned up this page: http://www.herbherbert.com/pdf/comfrey.pdf., which says the following:

"Another species of comfrey frequently found in gardens is Russian comfrey, Symphytum x uplandicum, which is a cross between common comfrey and the prickly comfrey (S. asperum) found in Russia. It grows to 1.75 metres and has rose-purple coloured corollas which are 2 cm long."

So if that site is correct, it sounds like I have seeds of Russian Comfrey. The instructions say to sow then place in fridge for two weeks (which I did yesterday) so I'll see what happens..

I double checked my information
Diggers are not selling correctly labeled plant -seed

<infoed> to me
Dear Michael
Thank you for your enquiry.
You are quite right Symphytum x uplandicum is sterile and does
not produce seeds.
We recommend the variety 'Bocking 14' as the
very best. Seems the information concerning this plant as got a bit
mixed up downunder.
I appears to me that if people are selling
seeds of said russian comfrey then this is mis-identifyed and not
actually it.
There are 11 species and 1 cross and numerous
varieties so I am not suprised there is a little confusion. I have
worked in nursery stock for 20 years and I have seen many plants
mis-named and endless confusion over some, I think a bit of this is
normal in horticulture and unavoidable.

Yours sincerely
Andy Strachan
Senior Garden Organic Advisor (HDRA)

The "Bocking" variesties of Comfrey have never been sorted out in Australia.
They have probably never all been imported from the UK.

Nursery miss- labeling is rife in Australia, as Andy Strachan says (about the UK), but it is also reprehensible;
especially when it comes to herbs that may be used medicinally
...................................
The Henry Doubleday Reseach Assoxiation is a very worthwhile organic gardening group. They have a seed bank and you would have a better chance of getting properly named Comfrey (roots) from them than anyone else. I beleive the Australian group has a web site

[cathy]

Hi everyone,

thanks for all the replies :

Michaelangelica - thank you for following up on the symphytum x uplandicum. I think I will write to Diggers and ask them to please clarify what they are selling given that you have confirmed this plant should definitely be sterile. A bit disappointing. Fortunately I am only planning on composting it, not eating it, but I do agree with your comment. I'll also follow up on HDRA thanks.

Scottie - thanks for the personal experience. I must say I found the instructions weird, but like you have followed them to the letter. I'll try your alternative for the next punnet and let you know what happens.

Chickadee - Hiya. No, the instructions say to sow then refrigerate. I've never put a punnet of seeds in the fridge before but, hey, there's always a first time. At least from Scottie's post I'm not the only one! From what I've read, any of your root cuttings should work. In fact, much of what I've read makes me nervous that just looking at the roots will make the comfrey take over my whole garden - of course that presupposes I get any to grow -or that what grows is what it was supposed to be in the first place.

Cheers everyone
Cathy

[Michaelangelica]

Hi everyone,

thanks for all the replies :
Fortunately I am only planning on composting it, not eating it,
Cathy

Pity, it is worth more than composting.
It is a very versatile plant
Some suggestions:-
1 As bird and chook food -high in protein. vitamins some say it is the only land plant that contains b vitamins

2. as human food small leaf added to salads is nutritious soothing and contains germaium a powerful anti-oxidant.
(Many point out that it contains small amounts of pyrrolidine alkaloids which will severely damage the liver in high doses so eat only a small leaf occasionally so the pyrrolidine alkaloids do not build up in the liver). Comfrey fritters are delicious

3 Medicinally it is known as "knit-bone" and certainly promotes bone healing ( I've only used on animals so far KOW)
Traditionally the roots were pounded and grated into a mash; this was spread on a bandage and then this bandage would be used to splint broken bones. Aparently, unlike plaster, it 'gives' if there is any swelling.(especially useful where the break is on or near a joint)
Poultices like this are untidy,messy to make and have lost favour in modern times. However historically comfrey was planted (along with horseradish for colds) along the medieval crusader roots/highways near streams. I saw a big clump of Comfrey growing at the ruined "Fountains Abbey" in England. No doubt left over from when the monks left 500 yeras ago!!
It has great drawing power for sebaceous cysts and boils etc.

A tea is soothing for sore throats

The leaves and especially the roots contain a lot of allantion a cell growth/ granulating promoting substance of remarkable power.
So an ointment made from comfrey roots is excellent for many skin problems.
I have seen it used to great effect on the persistent leg ulcers that many older people get.
In one case it saved the person's leg from amputation .
(Always use on edges of ulcer so the healing works toward the middle.)
If you cut yourself and put a comfrey leaf or ointment on it immediately within minutes it looks like an old cat scratch!
Many worry about this healing speed, as if the wound it not clean, they say it might 'lock in' infection. This has not been my experience but I have never used it on a dirty wound).

There are very many documented cases of comfrey being used to cure some types of skin and facial cancers.

4 Fill a garbage bin 1/2 full with leaves then fill with water. At the end of three weeks you will have a fertiliser about equivalent to commercial tomato fertiliser.

5 When planting potatoes put down first a heavy layer of Comfrey leaves. Many say this improves the crop no end (watch little bits of root don't get planted with the leaves. you are right you only have to look at a comfrey root for it to grow. It is a bog plant though and likes lots of water
In the early days of Australian settlement people tried to grow it as stock food but it always failed because of lack of water. I believe it is grown extensively in NZ as a racehorse food. Any NZ's out there might like to confirm that?

I am sure others on this list will also have many other uses they could share with you

It is a most versatile, fascinating and lately, much neglected herb.

I would be fascinated to see pictures of the flowers of any comfrey people grow. If you could post them here ( by following Murry's detailed instructions -you do need an alan-key though )
It is one way to sort out the varieties The flowers clusters are small, but beautiful.
Best wishes