In other words, in order to get your seeds to germinate, you need to go through a process that will imitate the conditions of a cold, wet winter. It is possible to grow comfrey from seed, but it will need to go through a process of stratification first. If you start them indoors, you can transplant them later into the place you want them to grow. If you want, you can plant them directly in the garden once it is warm enough or you can start them ahead of time in pots indoors. Start your roots or crowns in the spring. You can find these at a local nursery, online, or better yet, ask a friend or neighbor for a piece of their already established comfrey plant. You will only need a few pieces to get started because comfrey grows readily and is easy to propagate by division. Root pieces will take a little bit longer to get started than crowns, but both will grow equally well and should provide you with strong, healthy plants. Your local nursery will most likely sell comfrey as root pieces or crown offsets.
#Symphytum plant how to#
How to Plant ComfreyĬomfrey is very easy to plant. For fastest growth, plant it in rich, moist soil. However, for best results, grow your comfrey in a sweet soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. It can grow in wet soil or dry soil because its long taproot helps it to adapt. Basic Soil RequirementsĬomfrey is extremely adaptable, and will grow in almost any soil. hardiness zones three through nine but can be grown in other hardiness zones, as well. It can handle damp areas and dry areas, so you may want to consider growing it in locations where you simply can’t get anything else to grow.Ĭomfrey grows easily in U.S. In fact, in high heat areas, some afternoon shade will prevent the plants from cooking in the hot sun.
#Symphytum plant full#
Just remember that wherever you plant comfrey, it is likely to grow just about forever.Ĭomfrey grows best in full sun but it will tolerate some shade. It will also act as a grass barrier to keep grass from overtaking your garden borders. This will prevent comfrey from quickly spreading and taking over your garden but still keep it accessible to chop and drop as mulch. However, do not plant them inside the garden, instead, plant them outside the garden barrier. One suggestion for a great location to grow comfrey is as a border to your gardens or flower beds. For this reason, you probably do not want to grow comfrey directly in your vegetable garden. It can spread aggressively and become an invasive weed, so choose your location carefully. Comfrey will regrow from even the tiniest left behind root, so once it is planted, it is nearly impossible to get rid of. Selecting the right location is one of the most important factors in growing it. Comfrey can spread through seeds or broken pieces of root. It will continue to grow even while it is flowering.Īfter frost, the leaves will die back and the plant will go dormant again until spring. It produces bell-shaped flowers that are usually a creamy yellow, but some cultivars are available in other colors such as purple, red, or blue. Comfrey will flower from late spring through the first frost. By late spring, the plant should be well over a foot tall with large leaves and hairy stems. It is not recommended to be ingested at all.Ĭomfrey will begin growing from the crown of last year’s plant in early spring. It is thought to cause liver toxicity and vein blockage.
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