Return to the Soil Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
Posted by pkapeckopickldpepprz z9 a/b FL (My Page) on Tue, Jan 26, 10 at 21:35
| I looked it up but see the dried herbs and tinctures but not seeds to use for growing the plants. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| Richters has it (link below). Years ago I got a few roots from someone but didn't think to bring some with when we moved. At the time I didn't know it was a good compost additive. |
Here is a link that might be useful: comfrey
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| Thompson and Morgan sells a packet of 30 comfrey seeds for $2.95. Their web address is www.tmseeds.com. |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| Post a wanted ad on freecycle & craigslist, & ask your local garden clubs & herb societies; anyone who has had comfrey for more than a year has plenty to share! |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| try Horizon Herbs. You can get seeds or plants of several types. Just remember, once you have comfrey, you will ALWAYS have comfrey. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Horizon Herbs
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| I would really appreciate help in understanding this Comfrey thing. I understand it's raised as a compost ingredient? What does it add to the compost that a cover crop like alfalfa or an amendment like seaweed wouldn't? Do folks allocate a permanent fraction of garden space to comfrey in order to get compost for the rest of the garden? On the face of it, it doesn't seem like a viable long-term solution, but I think I'm misunderstanding something. |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| It's suppose to be a good source of potassium from what I read. |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| And Nitrogen as well a high source of Potash. |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| If you don't disturb the plant, for instance by tilling, not even a little, it should stay put. We have friends who tilled a bit of the comfrey growing at the edge of their garden and had a major invasion. They stopped it by covering for 2-3 years with black tarp. Planting it in rich clay loam may have been part of the problem. Seeing what happened there we planted ours in sod, in rather poor soil. Comfrey's deep roots draw minerals into the leaves, making them a good fertilizer. This website suggests picking the early leaves to line potato planting trenches with - I'm planning to try it this year. The site makes a few claims that seem over the top but comfrey has a long proven track record. |
Here is a link that might be useful: comfrey uses
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| I've always ordered mine from Horizon Herbs and have been very happy with their quality and service. |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
I'm in New Zealand, so different rules may apply...but here the recommended comfrey is 'Bocking 14', which does not set seed (whew) but grows vigorously from the tiniest piece of root.
While it may seem that comfrey cannot possibly be all it's cracked up to be, it really is. It produces enormous amounts of leaf and thrives when cut back multiple times each season. It's a great compost starter, makes incredible, and incredibly stinky, compost tea, does the laundry (ok, but you get my point!) |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| Comfrey is better propagated by pieces of root rather than seeds. Many varieties of comfrey don't produce seeds, and some people feel that comfrey plants from seed aren't as robust as ones from root cuttings. A decent-sized comfrey plant can have roots that run over 7 ft deep, helping to open compacted soil and mine nutrients that have washed below the root level of other plants. You can mow or hack it down for compost starting the second year, and do it every 5-6 wks until fall. Comfrey needs water, and without it, it will die. If you want to kill it off, dry it out. (This is from personal experience.) Sue |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| Hey pickpeckpickpeppers?? Did you ever get your comfrey roots?? Pete |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| I like the idea of continuously harvesting the leaves. It would be easier to harvest the whole tops, but the worry over comfrey taking hold in the garden through viable seeds in the flowers prevents me. Should I be worried, given that I don't know what strain these are? Re water, with roots that deep they should be fine once established. |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
| Paulns, I've had my comfrey, not bocking 14, in the same spot and none of has grown from seed that I can tell. It grows like ornamental grass in clumps, the clumps get bigger, but the whole patch stays in the same area.
It is a good idea to harvest it before it flowers because of the bees. I always add my comfrey to a vessel composter if it is in flower, and make sure I get high temps for that batch. |
RE: Where to source comfrey root to grow as a compost additive?
| | |
- Posted by paulns NS zone 6a (My Page) on
Fri, Feb 12, 10 at 11:52
| You're right, I need to get with it and harvest before it flowers. Maybe let it flower at some point, as the bees do love it. The clumps we have are increasing slowly from the roots. The sod keeps them in place, mostly, and either the seeds are sterile or they can't take hold in the sod - not knowing which is what prevents me from harvesting the tops. |
|
|
|
|
