When is Comfrey bocking or otherwise?

Hi all,

I just wondered if there was a way to tell if a comfrey plant is the Bocking 14 variety or not? There is some growing not too far from my plot and I would like to take a root or two, but don't want to do so if it's the self seeding variety that will take over my plot. Is there an easy way to spot the more sublime Bocking14 from normal comfrey?

Chris

Once it grows, if it sets seeds then avoid it completely. If no seeds appear, then it's Bocking, but you might have trouble digging out the deep roots. So probably easier to just buy fresh plants you know are the right kind and can start growing for you this year. Sometimes its just not worth trying to save a bit of money.

Where can you buy Bocking 14 from cheap then? I am a tight yorkshire man after all I've taken on the plot next to mine and with the extra space want to set up a good sized comfrey bed to provide me with a source of free fertiliser

Tom, there are essentially two types of comfrey: 1) the one which grows wild and sets seed.  This one is invasive and can be difficult to keep under control.  2) Bocking 14 variety, which was specially developed to not set seed and thus behave itself in the invasiveness stakes.

Anything growing in an uncultivated manner is likely to be the wild variety.  Bocking 14 variety needs to be bought, or obtained from a neighbour who can guarantee its variety.

Don't confuse it with Bocking 4 which is a pig feed and is rampant.