Killer Compost/Murderous Mulch

[Hinotori]

The bocking is sterile so it doesn't produce seed, but it's a Russian comfrey. Do not use it internally.

 

[baymule]

Can animals eat the Bocking comfrey? Doesn't common comfrey make seed and spread all over?

 

[Hinotori]

Any comfrey is fine for livestock.

Yes the common comfrey is a seed bearing invasive. The bocking cultivar doesn't seed. It is 60+ years old and a favorite of gardeners for compost

 

[Britesea]

another common culinary herb that can be toxic in large quantities is Thyme. That is why you need to be extremely careful if you are using it as an essential oil

 

[Mini Horses]

Can animals eat the Bocking comfrey? Doesn't common comfrey make seed and spread all over?

It could be an issue. This plant gets huge and with the deep taproots, almost impossible to eliminate if established. So couple yr old plant, chop up root and each piece can regrow...
My chickens love the stuff and destroyed my young plant, dug up the little roots. Now I have to start over.

Well established plant can be 3' + and spread out leaves over several feet in each direction. Large leaves. Been used in Europe for centuries, fodder, fertilizer & medicinal

 

[Hinotori]

The ones we have down the fenceline get about 4 foot tall. It was here when we bought the place. It spreads but I just keep it mowed short with the grass and that has kept it under control where I don't want it. Himalayan blackberries and canary grass outcompete it and prevent it's spread here too

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Ok - I broke down and ordered some Comfrey roots. I'm gonna put it in tubs to start with because I'm just a little bit afraid of it, lol!

 

[Hinotori]

I dug roots out for a bunch of people in my state's chicken group one year and took them to a show for pickup. That knocked down a bunch of it for a while. 3 years later it's come back nearly as big from where I just wacked the roots off.

The bees love the flowers. They are always covered when blooming. Bees don't bother me and I don't bother them.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Reading that bees love it was one of the things that made me go ahead and order it.

 

[CrealCritter]

@chefsdreams you reminded me of something from my childhood now (I started a thread on childhood memories yesterday btw, I tagged you over there) We had a compost heap in a corner of the backyard, though I don't recall my dad ever using the compost, it was just a place to dump garden waste and a wonderful place to explore and discover things like these…

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I can still remember how those worms scared me!

Just a little butter in a fry pan and those would be some serious eats