Worth knowing:
The perennial and winter-hardy Comfrey can grow between 70 and 120 cm tall and is a basic plant in old cottage gardens. It also grows wild on creek banks where it makes an impression with its striking crimson to pale reddish purple blossoms between May and August.
Natural Location:
Comfrey has its origin in the temperate latitudes of Eurasia up to the Urals and Central Asia.
Cultivation:
The best time for sowing is between March and April or – alternatively – between September and November. You can either plant the seeds directly in the garden patch or start propagation indoors on your windowsill. In cooler regions the latter is recommended. You may then plant the seedlings out around May. Place the seeds about 1 cm deep into the potting compost. Cover the seed container with clear film that you provide with a few holes to prevent the soil from drying out. Take the clear film every second or third day completely off for about 2 hours. That way you avoid mold formation on the potting compost. Place the seed container somewhere bright and warm with a temperature between 20 and 25° Celsius and keep the potting compost moist, but not wet. Germination usually takes two to three weeks. You can multiply your plants by dividing the roots later on.
Place:
Comfrey prefers a semi-shaded place in the garden. In very sunny locations it will only flourish in really moist soil. Due its fleshy roots, comfrey can also survive droughts without damage.
Care:
With dry soils it is necessary to water regularly and with nutrient-poor soils you should also support the plant with nitrogen fertilization through organic fertilizer like composted horse dung or horn chipping.
During the winter:
Comfrey is a hardy plant and doesn’t need any extra protection during the winter.
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