Interesting plant for replacing fertilizer @ Sterile Comfrey

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DallasFigShop

Well-known member
This is more of a large scale plant but im thinking of trialing Bocking 4 for making fertilizer since allegedly it handles heat better... Bocking #4 and #14 are sterile hybrids wheras the regular Comfrey is invasive ... and so not recommended and allegedly a banned crop in some places

Im not sure it would work so well here since we have shale bedrock that isnt very deep but maybe around deeper digs and far off from utility easements... i could grow a patch that will not spread too far hopefully.. that is if it can even take the summer heat here! But still im not sure if i want to try

Othwr methods are cardboard mulching which is for dramatically increasing the earthworm population and also breeding compost worms in deep manure trenches.. ive seen it done well nkt far from here with rabbit manure trenches that are several feet deep... works really well for tomatoes

Please share any experiences with comfrey either as a food source or fertilizer, and especially in warmer places.. a couple of the major shops we know carry Bocking #14 and are sold out. Im anxious to know if anyone has used this outside of the typical climate zones

 
Weird you posted this. I have been looking at sources for Bocking 14 (it’s cold here) comfrey for JADAM purposes. Because it’s sterile, no seeds, just root/tuber/crown propagation. I was looking for a reputable source. I was going to plant this a few different areas of the garden and compost either with the manure from my chickens or for the JADAM. There are some places on Etsy and Amazon but wasn’t sure if they were good to go.
 
IAK said:
Weird you posted this. I have been looking at sources for Bocking 14 (it’s cold here) comfrey for JADAM purposes. Because it’s sterile, no seeds, just root/tuber/crown propagation. I was looking for a reputable source. I was going to plant this a few different areas of the garden and compost either with the manure from my chickens or for the JADAM. There are some places on Etsy and Amazon but wasn’t sure if they were good to go.
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Yeah ive seen an Etsy Writeup describing Bocking#4 in the title, and then they go on to describe Bocking 14 in the description. There are several discussion up and people passing them around. Should be easy to find with some effort and reputable sites will probably reload their stock for spring
 
This might be helpful
From an AI overview

Bocking 4 and Bocking 14 are popular comfrey hybrids, with the main differences being Bocking 14's sterility (no seed spread, good for containment) and slightly higher biomass for composting/fertility, while Bocking 4 is often preferred for animal fodder due to lower PAs (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) and better palatability, though it can spread more readily. Bocking 4 is also noted for deeper roots and drought tolerance, whereas Bocking 14 is great for consistent, manageable production, often with darker purple flowers and a more defined clump.
 
I ended up buying 3 Bocking 14 cuttings from CZ Grain on Amazon. They seem legit, have their own separate website. Family operation in Iowa. Will get them going for spring.
 
ktrain said:
I wonder how well this would grow in heavy clay.
I know it says it grows in poor soil...clay is not actually that poor in nutrients but pretty harsh to a lot items.

I'd make some space for a bunch of it...might have to find a good source.
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@ktrain, I have been thinking the same thing. The ones I have found around me do not know the variety they have. Will keep looking.
 
I’ve been growing comfrey from seed for 5 years and it’s hardly moved from the original area, maybe started with 5 plants total and now have a 4x12 area with plants in it, I pull them up around the area when I prep beds in spring time so it could’ve spread farther if allowed but it hasn’t moved into invasive territory any more than other wild plants in the area.
 
julie said:
Azolla is another really neat plant that can be used for fertilizer. I think more people need to know about it.
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It sounds viable, but looks like an “aquaculture” job. The comfrey appeals to me because it’s a cold hardy perennial that I don’t have to do anything with after I plant it. Just cut and harvest. I also want to do JADAM and I feel like an aquatic plant would take forever to get going fermenting in water.

You warm weather people should look into moringa as well. Too cold up here for it.
 
Mike Piersimoni posted the below on his fb fig group.
“Comfrey one of the best natural fertilizers you can grow, and you should start now.
Comfrey is a pretty, compact plant that grows about 3 ft tall and 3 ft wide. It has large green leaves and pink to purple flowers. A vigorous grower but there is something you have to know before purchasing a comfrey root for growing. Comfrey is an invasive plant, it can take over an entire area if the seeds are spread. That's why it's important that you find a variety that seeds are sterile. I know of two Russian varieties called Bocking 4 and Bocking 14. They don't come in seeds they come in Roots or crowns. The crowns tend to grow faster but the roots will grow very well also.
They grow very fast, so starting one now in a pot you can be harvesting your first crop in early summer. And then subsequent crops every 6 to 8 weeks. The first year I grew started from a root in a pot in March I was able to get 3 harvests. The amazing thing about comfrey besides medicinal purposes, (look them up) are that the tap roots eventually can go down to 20 to 30 ft. They pull up all minerals from deep in the Earth and put them in their leaves. The leaves can can be chopped put in a bucket filled with water and in about 6 to 8 weeks the whole thing breaks down and becomes a liquid fertilizer. You can add the leaves to your compost pile or you can just chop and drop the leaves around your plants and eventually they will break down and feed the soil. Another thing you have to know about confrey it is the smelliest of all the natural fertilizers. Worse than plain fish emulsion.
So it's basically meant for outdoor growing. With chop and drop you don't get the smell and the smell from the liquid does dissipate in a couple of days once you feed your plants and trees. But until then the way I can describe the smell is raw sewage. Not pleasant but the plants and trees love it. Besides having NPK (1.80-0.50-7.30 )it has a ton of natural nutrients and minerals pulled up from deep in the ground where most trees and plants would never be able to get them. Once the liquid is ready there's usually a dilution factor of about water to liquid 5 to 1 to 10 to 1. So a 5 gallon bucket can go a long way. And you can also use a higher value dilution if you like. I bought three roots on Amazon for around $15. The next season I was able to harvest roots from them and plant them. I now have 10 plants lined up at a fence line and can now Harvest at least four times a season. You can strain the liquid and also spray your plants but that would be the smelliest way. Highly recommended and free.”

I have done the chop and drop and used it as liquid fertilizer. Its definitely a cheaper alternative.
 
I actually have Bocking #14. I grow it for my chickens, but deer loves it the most so they got to be chewed to ground level! Chickens would peck it when it's available, but they love regular grass more. I planed to add it to my compost pile, but I never had anything left after deer find it.
 
ktrain said:
I wonder how well this would grow in heavy clay.
I know it says it grows in poor soil...clay is not actually that poor in nutrients but pretty harsh to a lot items.

I'd make some space for a bunch of it...might have to find a good source.
Click to expand...

I would guess that clay is not an issue once established... the clay here dries out on top easily but an established Comfrey plant goes very deep which is the main point it goes far deeper than most plants where untouched and rich soil exists..

My concern is Bedrock. Just 2 or 3 feet down and we hit rock/shale...so I was thinking to plant a little patch near where a pool was dug and maybe that will naturally contain It to the border .. and maybe it breaks through rock and can help some tree varieties... I think most fruit trees skim not too deep but would benefit if they could go deeper...

just theorizing ... also the clay is fairly rich here... the peaches give a bumper crop without ever fertilizing a tree in 20 years, so long as I prune in the late winter.. the pears in alternating years its amazing how much fruit they can make even without help.. maybe comfrey around them would cause more steady number crops...i wonder (i also wonder if the off years are due to insect activity related to temps)
 
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