[Half a plot man]

I have read about all the great properties/uses of Comfrey, but where can i get hold of some. Also is it a permanant plant that you cut and grow?

[bayleaf]

Yes it is but its pretty rampant so you must fence it in. This place sells it and has pellets as well as plants
www.organiccatalogue.com

[mumofstig]

It's cheap enough on e-bay 

[bigben]

If your on an allotment site you might find a few plot holders who have some they could let you have. I got all mine like this. As others have said - it speads and you only need a few root cuttings to get it going on your plot.

[Half a plot man]

Yes it is but its pretty rampant so you must fence it in. This place sells it and has pellets as well as plants
www.organiccatalogue.com

Would it work if I planted it in a large plastic container then buried that?

[Goldfinger]

I got a cutting off a fellow on here (MOLUSC, thanks again) 

It's growing nicely ATM, and so I'm looking forward to some nice 'tea' this year...

Is that comfrey on ebay defo the 'bocking 14' variety though, the non-self seeding variety??

[Yorkie]

The variety Bocking 14 is sterile and much better behaved than wild comfrey.  Try to get the B14 and you should be OK.

It would grow in a large container, though, yes.

[Half a plot man]

The variety Bocking 14 is sterile and much better behaved than wild comfrey.  Try to get the B14 and you should be OK.

It would grow in a large container, though, yes.

Thanks everybody for advice, yes I've found some B14, I have a large diameter (approx 30") by 24" deep, ill plant it in there and bury it. Hopefully that will stop the spreading, and a small picket fence will be in order once it gets going. 

[Kristen]

Thanks everybody for advice, yes I've found some B14, I have a large diameter (approx 30") by 24" deep, ill plant it in there and bury it. Hopefully that will stop the spreading, and a small picket fence will be in order once it gets going. 

I don't think you have to worry about Bocking-14 growing out-of-control, the normal problem with Comfrey is that it self-sows and thus spreads everywhere. Bocking-14 plants will "bulk up" but they won't grow from runners etc., and they are sterile, so won't produce viable seeds, so won't spread uncontrollably.

[noshed]

It won't spread much so don't worry. Just keep cutting it

[JayG]

Speculation on my part because I don't have room to grow it, but I thought the nutritional value of comfrey came from its very deep root system which can find nutrients even in poor soils?

Surely this wouldn't happen if pot-grown?

[bigben]

Speculation on my part because I don't have room to grow it, but I thought the nutritional value of comfrey came from its very deep root system which can find nutrients even in poor soils?

Surely this wouldn't happen if pot-grown?

I thought the same - I thought it even managed to bring up minerals from the subsoil, making them available for use. I guess it will grow in pots but not as well and will eventually deplete the nutrients.

[Muddylou]

When deciding whether or not to grow comfrey on my plot, I read that the tap root can reach ten foot long.