comfrey, how wet is too wet?

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We have just built a new pond, and I would like to place a raised bed of comfrey near the pond. I need to know how much water is too much, so I can decide how close to the pond to place the bed. Any suggestions?

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.com), April 22, 2001

Answers

Hi Ed, I don't know about how much water as my comfrey grows where there is almost no water (except rain) and poor soil. Comfrey seems to survive wherever it is planted. It spreads by underground roots, so if you don't want it in a particular area, plant it in pots and then plant the pots in the ground. If you leave it grow on it's own, it will rapidly multiply, especially if you try to dig it up and leave even a tiny piece of it in the ground. I love comfrey! It is an excellent forage crop for poultry and practically any other animal. It is also a wonderful healing herb. Just slap a piec of leaf on a cut and watch it heal. Good luck.

-- Mary in East TN (barnwood@preferred.com), April 22, 2001.

I have comfrey planted in wet spots in our hay field (like were we don't want to go with the 8N) and it does wonderfully. I just hand cut it and hang it to dry. On the other hand, I have it in a couple dry spots, under a big tree and it does quite wonderful there also. If only some of the other things I love would be so easy to cultivate.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 22, 2001.

Comfrey seems to grow almost anywhere, it will grow when there is a drought and other plants are wilting, it will be one of the last plants to die when winter sets in. It will also grow in damp areas, so I don't thimk you will have a problem growing it near your pond. Bruce

-- Bruce Burdge (comfreybruce@richmond.com), April 23, 2001.

Comfrey - despite its many uses - is a weed. It will grow just about anywhere, so plant wherever you want!! Its hard to kill once established....

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 23, 2001.

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