[blue]

I recently brought 2 packets of Russian Comfrey fron Chiltern seed and to date have only managed to get one seed to germinate from both packets, are they hard to germinate or have i just been unlucky

[WG.]

Can't help you there, sorry.  Like most people, I propogate comfrey vegetatively by dividing the clump.  Maybe you could ask the vendor for typically germination rates?

[John]

I didn't know you could buy the seed. If I was you I would buy a minimum quantity of root cuttings from the HDRA and then split a plant next spring. I got 25 plants from one quarter of a plant - dead easy.

Bocking 14 is a sterile clone so safe if you leave it too long and it seeds.  Comfrey is a wonderful tough plant and a nightmare weed if it gets spread - hence the aim for a sterile clone.

Have you seen this article wot I wrote?  Russian Comfrey

[richyrich7]

I recently brought 2 packets of Russian Comfrey fron Chiltern seed and to date have only managed to get one seed to germinate from both packets, are they hard to germinate or have i just been unlucky

I bought mine from there a few years back, get some sand paper and rub the seeds in between two pieces Gently! to remove some of the outer seed coat, that should improve your germination rate.

 Their very easy to grow from root cuttings 1" long laid on their side in a seed tray, with a mix of peat and sand keep well watered and 99.9% will shoot.

So if you only get a few next year take root cuttings in the early spring before the plant starts really moving.

Hope this helps

[GrannieAnnie]

comfrey is just very easy to grow!  I sent some bits to a fellow member is a little while ago, but I'd dug up and divided the bits into about 24 pieces.  They are now all growing in my little greenhouse in pots!!!

I've never grown from seed either, all the bits I've got are from the parent plant that I bought over 20 years ago!