Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Lardman on April 19, 2009, 19:46

Title: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Lardman on April 19, 2009, 19:46: I've found a living comfrey plant :D :D :D I know its sad to get excited over it but there you go.

Its been hiding round the back of my compost bins - around 1ft tall at the moment and just starting to create flower buds. Can I cut it yet... Im itching to make use of some; as its only one plant I was thinking of making a mini press just to test how smelly it really is.
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: GillyHen on April 19, 2009, 19:59: I've already picked leaves to put in the potato trench. Its a bit of a cut and come again plant, comfrey.
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: allstars_princess on April 20, 2009, 08:50: Cut it all down! Trust me it will come back... I realised I had it last year when I got my plot and treated it like royalty, the old timers at the allotment were laughing when I told them I had fed it. This year I have used it everywhere; spuds, feed in water, compost heap. I had to dig it all up though as I needed the space for something else. I am sure though that some will come back!
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Lardman on April 20, 2009, 10:07: Quote from: allstars_princess on April 20, 2009, 08:50
Cut it all down! Trust me it will come back... I realised I had it last year when I got my plot and treated it like royalty, the old timers at the allotment were laughing when I told them I had fed it. This year I have used it everywhere; spuds, feed in water, compost heap. I had to dig it all up though as I needed the space for something else. I am sure though that some will come back!

As I've said before I have a magic comfrey killing touch. I thought Id killed all of mine but so far 2 plants have come back. I divided the other plant into 14 cuttings of which 3 have sprouted.
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Lynne on April 20, 2009, 10:28: As everyone says, it will grow back. The experts at my site say it should be cut before it flowers if it is to be used as a fertiliser.
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: paintedlady on April 20, 2009, 12:51: I would cut it before it flowers simply to avoid it self seeding everywhere! They can suddenly become a "weed" in the wrong place, and it doesn't help that they have such deep tap roots!
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Iain j on May 07, 2009, 23:24: What does Comfrey look like any pics
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: harrymac on May 08, 2009, 05:17: Quote from: Iain j on May 07, 2009, 23:24
What does Comfrey look like any pics

http://www.comfrey-central.com/images/index.htm
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Rangerkris on May 08, 2009, 06:49: I got some on the path to the plot thats in flower is it to late to cut and use.
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Yorkie on May 08, 2009, 15:17: Can't see why that would be a problem - the only difficulty will be all the self-seeded plants you'll find coming up soon :D
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Iain j on May 08, 2009, 20:01: does comfry have prickles on the back of the leaf running the full length of the leave ?
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: shaun on May 08, 2009, 20:10: posted this pic before but what the hell.

(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/shaungill/DSC00090-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Webby on May 08, 2009, 21:14: The only Comfrey you should grow is Bocking 14.
Bocking 14 is a hybrid which does not self-seed. So it has all the benefits of comfrey, and not the invasiveness.
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Lardman on May 08, 2009, 21:36: Quote from: shaun on May 08, 2009, 20:10
posted this pic before but what the hell.

You're just trying to give me comfrey envy aren't you shaun... Wish mine looked that good.

Im tempted to give them a quick hair cut then give them a mulch of fresh chicken pooh, apparently you can ??
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: peterjf on May 08, 2009, 23:26: i cut about 1kg of fresh comfrey and put in onion bag and place in a water butt (55 gallon)

it takes about 2 weeks for the leaves and stalks to rot down in the water ,

you can tell its ready from the smell,

we dilute the mixed to a weak tea look-a-like, 50% water 50% comfrey in 2 gallon watering can

we use it on everything , from the greenhouse to brassicas , cauliflowers love the stuff,

we usually get 6-7 batches from the comfrey plants we have around the base of our cow muck and pig muck piles,

the waste stalks that dont rot we place in our compost bins to help with speeding up the composting ,

be aware of the comfrey mixture splashing onto your clothes , it deffinately clears your head after a night out ,
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Iain j on May 09, 2009, 08:25: where is the best place to get comfry not seen it anywhere ?
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: harrymac on May 15, 2009, 16:34: You can get it here, but it isn't cheap http://www.organiccatalogue.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1492
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: farmersue on May 15, 2009, 16:41: Quote from: Iain j on May 09, 2009, 08:25
where is the best place to get comfry not seen it anywhere ?
I got mine off e-bay. 3 plants for £5. They all survived the winter and are looking good now (although they aren't very bog), just starting to flower.
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: harrymac on May 15, 2009, 16:47: Quote from: farmersue on May 15, 2009, 16:41
I got mine off e-bay. 3 plants for £5.

In that case 5 plants for £6 isn't so bad
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Babstreefern on May 15, 2009, 23:28: Basically, comfrey is a weed. Once you have it, you can't get rid of it. >:(
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Kristen on May 16, 2009, 11:08: "Basically, comfrey is a weed. Once you have it, you can't get rid of it."

Even the Bocking 14 variety ??
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Salmo on May 16, 2009, 13:23: Quote from: Iain j on May 08, 2009, 20:01
does comfry have prickles on the back of the leaf running the full length of the leave ?
What you have is probably teasel?
Title: Re: Comfrey... When do you cut it?
Post by: Babstreefern on May 16, 2009, 16:15: Any kind will grow. We've loads on the allotment. Everybody on our allotment has some somewhere. You can just help yourself to it. I'm sorry to say, that I definitely wouldn't buy comfrey, because it just grows anywhere. Comfrey to me is like paying £3.00 for three plants of nettles.