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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2011 6:57:27 GMT -5
I just put ten comfrey roots in a 30 gallon smart pot. Since most of it is for composting purposes, I put the pot near the compost pile. Anybody use this? Do I just cut the green leaves periodically and toss them on the pile?
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 15, 2011 7:07:38 GMT -5
That's all I do. Seems to speed it up some. Helps with the decomposition and odor control as well in my Doggy Do Digester
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GunnarSK
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Post by GunnarSK on Apr 16, 2011 6:11:56 GMT -5
I just put ten comfrey roots in a 30 gallon smart pot. Since most of it is for composting purposes, I put the pot near the compost pile. Anybody use this? Do I just cut the green leaves periodically and toss them on the pile? I have volunteer comfrey in one place of my allotment. Last year I tried to make tea from it, and it's said to be even better for that purpose (as fertiliser or organic pesticide) than stinging nettle.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2011 7:40:21 GMT -5
Thanks, y'all. Some of it is, of course for medical use - but the primary use is soil building. Great tip for the pesticide. Stinging nettle is not a local plant (although I have seeds to start a bed of it). And when I get my ducks, I am sure they will want it!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2011 8:08:06 GMT -5
Comfrey decomposes at a higher temperature than most plants do. That is why it is beneficial for compost; it speeds up the decomposition of everything in the pile.
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GunnarSK
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Post by GunnarSK on Apr 16, 2011 16:34:53 GMT -5
Comfrey decomposes at a higher temperature than most plants do. That is why it is beneficial for compost; it speeds up the decomposition of everything in the pile. So maybe I'll put some of it in the pile. Saw some baby leaves today.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2011 9:11:47 GMT -5
I believe yarrow functions the same way in compost, decomposes at a higher heat. Yarrow, like comfrey, is a somewhat invasive plant. Little bits of root left in the ground will produce new plants.
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rintintin
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Post by rintintin on Apr 29, 2011 14:57:13 GMT -5
If you get the Bocking 14 variety, it is a hybrid, and will not take over your yard. You need to divide it for propagation.
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GunnarSK
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Post by GunnarSK on May 1, 2011 5:54:46 GMT -5
If you get the Bocking 14 variety, it is a hybrid, and will not take over your yard. You need to divide it for propagation. Bocking 14 is a Russian comfrey (symphytum uplandicum = symphytum officinale x symphytum asperum), which is incapable of sexual reproduction, but may still be invasive.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on May 1, 2011 6:39:04 GMT -5
We looked at a property a couple of years ago where the entire garden was surrounded by this shorter Comfrey. I'm sure they had loads of laughs trying to keep it out of the main garden bed.
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GunnarSK
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Post by GunnarSK on May 13, 2011 6:57:50 GMT -5
Yesterday I looked closer at the comfrey at (or just outside) our allotment, and two plants are flowering now. However, I dont know what species it is, or even if it's a Russian comfrey.
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GunnarSK
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Post by GunnarSK on Jul 24, 2011 15:48:00 GMT -5
I forgot to show a photo of my comfrey, so here are pictures from 2010:
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GunnarSK
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Post by GunnarSK on Jul 30, 2011 9:56:42 GMT -5
There is now comfrey growing in a different place far from the original one. So if that is a seedling from my orginal plant, it can't be (sterile) Russian comfrey. The place is weedy anyway and not in a bed, so I'll just let the comfrey grow, even if it is invasive.
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GunnarSK
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Post by GunnarSK on Aug 20, 2011 12:11:21 GMT -5
I have comfrey growing in at least three different places, and apart from that, there is comfrey in my compost heap. My wife said that she tossed some there, but it looks very much alive, and I think it's growing.
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