Cultivate a thriving, self-sustaining garden with our premium Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots. This offering includes 12 packs of 4-inch long bare roots, ready to establish quickly in your garden. Known scientifically as Symphytum Officinale and commonly referred to as Russian Comfrey or Sterile Comfrey, Bocking 14 is a highly valued perennial herb for its numerous benefits in organic gardening. Unlike some other comfrey varieties, Bocking 14 is sterile, meaning it won’t spread by seed, making it a well-behaved addition to your landscape. Each root is carefully selected to ensure vigorous growth, providing you with an abundant supply of nutrient-rich foliage year after year. These robust roots are the foundation for a healthier, more productive garden ecosystem.

Key Benefits

Incorporating Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots into your garden offers a multitude of advantages, enhancing soil health and plant vitality:

• Natural Fertilizer & Compost Activator: Comfrey leaves are packed with essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. When used as a ‘chop and drop’ mulch or added to compost, they rapidly decompose, enriching your soil and boosting the growth of surrounding plants. This makes comfrey for garden use incredibly beneficial.
• Dynamic Accumulator: The deep taproots of comfrey draw up minerals and nutrients from deep within the soil, making them available to shallower-rooted plants when the comfrey leaves are harvested and applied as mulch or compost.
• Soil Improvement: The extensive root system of Symphytum Officinale helps to break up compacted soil, improve aeration, and enhance water penetration, fostering a healthier soil structure over time.
• Pollinator Attractor: While primarily grown for its leaves, comfrey produces small, bell-shaped flowers that are attractive to bees and other pollinators, contributing to the biodiversity of your garden.
• Perennial & Low Maintenance: Once established, these Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots are extremely hardy and require minimal care. They will reliably resprout each spring, providing a continuous supply of green manure without the need for annual replanting.
• Sterile Variety: As a sterile hybrid, Bocking 14 does not produce viable seeds, preventing unwanted spreading and making it easier to manage than other comfrey types. This ensures your Russian Comfrey stays where you plant it.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Growing Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots is straightforward, even for novice gardeners. For optimal results, plant the 4-inch roots horizontally, about 2-3 inches deep, in loose, well-drained soil. Comfrey is adaptable but thrives in a location with full sun to partial shade. Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily for the most vigorous growth. Immediately after planting, water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. During the initial growth phase, maintain consistently moist soil, but avoid waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. Once established, comfrey is quite drought-tolerant, though regular watering during dry spells will promote lush foliage.

The ideal soil for Symphytum Officinale is rich in organic matter and has good drainage. A pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is generally preferred. While comfrey is a heavy feeder, especially when harvested frequently, it rarely needs additional fertilization in fertile soil due to its dynamic accumulator properties. If your soil is poor, a balanced organic fertilizer or a top dressing of compost in early spring can be beneficial. Comfrey is generally pest and disease resistant. For harvesting, simply cut the large leaves a few inches above the ground. New growth will quickly emerge, allowing for multiple harvests throughout the growing season. This hardy perennial is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to grow comfrey for its beneficial properties.

Size & Details

This product includes 12 individual packs of Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots, with each root measuring approximately 4 inches in length. These bare roots are carefully selected to ensure viability and robust growth once planted. Comfrey is a fast-growing perennial, typically reaching a height of 2-3 feet and a similar spread, forming a dense clump of large, green leaves. The exact size will vary based on growing conditions and harvesting practices. These roots are shipped ready for immediate planting and will establish quickly in well-prepared soil. Expect to see significant foliage growth within the first growing season, with multiple harvests possible from late spring through fall. The sterile nature of this Russian Comfrey ensures it remains a manageable and beneficial part of your garden for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How large will the Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots grow? A: Once established, Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots will produce plants that typically reach 2-3 feet in height and spread. The size can vary slightly depending on soil fertility, sunlight, and how often you harvest the leaves.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Comfrey is primarily an outdoor plant, best suited for garden beds or large containers where it has space to grow. It thrives outdoors in a range of climates.
• Q: How much sunlight does Symphytum Officinale need? A: Symphytum Officinale prefers full sun to partial shade. For the most vigorous growth and highest nutrient content in its leaves, aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, comfrey is known for being extremely hardy and low-maintenance once established. It’s an excellent choice for gardeners looking to grow comfrey without extensive effort.
• Q: What condition will the comfrey roots arrive in? A: The Bocking 14 Comfrey plant roots will arrive as bare roots, carefully packaged to maintain their viability during shipping. They should be planted as soon as possible after arrival.
• Q: When is the best time to plant these comfrey roots? A: The best time to plant comfrey roots is in early spring after the last frost, or in early fall in warmer climates. This allows them to establish well before extreme temperatures.
• Q: Can I use comfrey for garden fertilizer? A: Absolutely! The primary use for comfrey for garden enrichment. Its leaves are rich in nutrients and can be used as a ‘chop and drop’ mulch, a compost activator, or steeped to make a nutrient-rich liquid feed.
• Q: Will this Russian Comfrey spread aggressively? A: The Bocking 14 variety of Russian Comfrey is sterile, meaning it does not produce viable seeds. This prevents it from spreading aggressively by seed, making it easier to manage in your garden compared to fertile varieties.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for growing comfrey? A: Comfrey prefers loose, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. It can tolerate a range of soil types but performs best when the soil is kept consistently moist, especially during its initial growth phase.
• Q: How often can I harvest the leaves from my comfrey plant? A: Once established, you can typically harvest comfrey leaves 3-5 times per growing season, depending on your climate and growing conditions. Simply cut the leaves a few inches above the ground, and new growth will emerge.