Bocking 14 Comfrey Plant Roots – 3 Pack, Russian Comfrey Live Root Cuttings, Russian Comfrey

Transform your garden with our premium Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots. This robust perennial, scientifically known as Symphytum officinale ‘Bocking 14’, is a gardener’s secret weapon for enriching soil and promoting vigorous plant growth. Unlike other varieties, Bocking 14 Comfrey is a sterile hybrid, meaning it won’t spread aggressively by seed, making it an ideal choice for controlled garden environments. Each pack contains 12 healthy, 4-inch root divisions, ready to establish quickly in your garden. Known commonly as Russian Comfrey, this plant is celebrated for its ability to mine deep-seated nutrients from the soil and make them available to other plants. It’s a must-have for organic gardeners seeking sustainable solutions for soil health and plant vitality.

These bare root plants are incredibly hardy and will sprout year after year, providing a continuous supply of nutrient-rich foliage. Whether you’re looking to create your own organic fertilizer, a potent compost activator, or simply improve the overall health of your garden beds, Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots offer an effective and eco-friendly solution. Its rapid growth and ease of cultivation make it suitable for both experienced gardeners and those new to permaculture practices.

Key Benefits

Incorporating Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots into your garden brings a multitude of advantages:

• Natural Soil Enrichment: Comfrey acts as a dynamic accumulator, drawing essential nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus from deep within the soil. These nutrients are then stored in its leaves, which can be harvested and used as a powerful, natural fertilizer.
• Excellent Mulch Material: The large, fast-growing leaves of Russian Comfrey make an ideal green mulch. When laid around other plants, they suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and slowly release nutrients back into the soil as they decompose.
• Compost Activator: Adding comfrey leaves to your compost pile significantly speeds up the decomposition process. The high nitrogen content acts as an activator, encouraging beneficial microbial activity and producing rich, dark compost faster.
• Sterile Growth Habit: As a sterile comfrey variety (Bocking 14), it will not produce viable seeds, preventing unwanted spreading. This ensures that your comfrey patch remains where you planted it, offering easy management.
• Vigorous & Hardy Perennial: Once established, comfrey is a resilient plant that requires minimal care. It will return each year, providing a reliable source of organic material for your garden season after season.
• Attracts Pollinators: Though primarily grown for its leaves, comfrey produces attractive bell-shaped flowers that are a favorite of bees and other beneficial pollinators, enhancing biodiversity in your garden.
• Supports Sustainable Gardening: By providing a self-renewing source of fertilizer and mulch, comfrey for garden use reduces the need for external inputs, supporting a more sustainable and self-sufficient gardening system.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Growing Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots is straightforward, making it an excellent addition to almost any garden. Choose a location with full sun to partial shade; while it tolerates partial shade, full sun will encourage the most vigorous growth and leaf production. Ensure the soil is loose, well-drained, and rich in organic matter. Comfrey is not particular about soil pH but prefers a consistently moist environment, especially during its establishment phase. These plants are incredibly hardy and will thrive in a wide range of climates, typically within USDA zones 3-9.

When planting your Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots, lay the 4-inch root sections horizontally about 2-3 inches deep. Space them at least 2-3 feet apart, as mature plants can spread quite wide. Water thoroughly after planting and maintain consistent moisture until the plants are well-established. Once mature, comfrey is quite drought-tolerant but will produce more lush foliage with regular watering. Fertilization is generally not required, as comfrey is a nutrient accumulator, but an initial application of compost can help kickstart growth. Harvest leaves regularly throughout the growing season by cutting them back to about 6 inches from the ground. This encourages new growth and prevents the plant from flowering too much, keeping energy focused on leaf production. Watch out for slugs and snails, which can sometimes be attracted to the tender young leaves.

Size & Details

This offering includes 12 packs of Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots, with each root division measuring approximately 4 inches in length. These bare roots are designed for direct planting and will quickly develop into robust plants. Upon establishment, individual Russian Comfrey plants can reach a height of 2-4 feet with a similar spread, forming a dense clump of large, hairy leaves. The vigorous growth rate means you can expect multiple harvests of nutrient-rich foliage throughout the growing season. These plants are shipped dormant and ready to burst into growth once planted in suitable conditions. The perennial nature of sterile comfrey ensures that your investment continues to pay dividends for many years, providing a sustainable source for your gardening needs. Expect to see significant leaf development within the first growing season, with full maturity and production reached by the second year.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How large do these Bocking 14 Comfrey plants get? A: Once established, Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots will grow into robust plants, typically reaching 2-4 feet in height and spread. Regular harvesting can help manage their size and encourage more leaf production.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Bocking 14 Comfrey is an outdoor perennial plant, ideally suited for garden beds, permaculture systems, or dedicated comfrey patches. It is not recommended for indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does Bocking 14 Comfrey need? A: Comfrey performs best in full sun to partial shade. More sunlight generally leads to more vigorous growth and larger leaf production, which is beneficial for creating comfrey for garden fertilizer.
• Q: What condition will the comfrey roots arrive in? A: Your Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots will arrive as dormant, bare root divisions, approximately 4 inches long. They are carefully packaged to ensure they are healthy and ready for planting upon arrival.
• Q: Can I use this Russian Comfrey for making fertilizer? A: Absolutely! Russian Comfrey (Bocking 14) is highly prized for its use in making nutrient-rich compost, comfrey tea fertilizer, and as a chop-and-drop mulch for other plants, significantly benefiting soil health.
• Q: When is the best time to plant Bocking 14 Comfrey roots? A: The best time to plant Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots is in early spring or fall, allowing them to establish before extreme temperatures. However, they can be planted anytime the ground is workable.
• Q: Is this a sterile variety of comfrey? A: Yes, ‘Bocking 14’ is a sterile hybrid, meaning it does not produce viable seeds. This prevents unwanted self-seeding and makes it a more manageable choice for gardeners concerned about invasive spread. This is a key benefit of sterile comfrey.
• Q: What kind of soil does comfrey prefer? A: Comfrey thrives in loose, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. It is adaptable but will perform best with consistent moisture and good drainage.
• Q: How often should I water my newly planted comfrey? A: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, for newly planted Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots until they are well-established. Once mature, they are quite drought-tolerant but will appreciate regular watering during dry spells.
• Q: What are the main uses for comfrey in the garden? A: The primary uses for comfrey for garden purposes include making natural liquid fertilizer, enriching compost, providing nutrient-rich mulch, and acting as a dynamic accumulator to improve soil health.