I was very lucky last year and was given the opportunity  to harvest as many comfrey bocking 14 as I could carry and I took away a wheelbarrow – and before you think me terrible – I left a small forest behind.

I shared my bounty with a number of people on the allotment site and still had plenty left over.

I did not have the bed set up when I collected the comfrey originally [not smart] and I so I threw them into the edge of my rhubarb bed which had been well manured at the very end of the previous year.  I split the clumps, threw them in, watered and then I walked away.  On the day they looked sad plants, not happy at being moved.  A couple of weeks later I understand what inspired John Wyndham’s 1951 novel The Day of the Triffids.

I eventually planted up a bed at the top of the plot where it can happily romp around.  It might be sterile but having seen the ‘forest’ that it came from I certainly want to keep it penned in.

I checked planting instructions on the internet and this needs to be planted 2-3 ft apart per plant.  I ignored that and planted approx every 18 inches.  You are not supposed to heavily harvest in the first year and I know I want to take advantage this year.  The intention is to harvest very heavily every other plant and leave the others alone to establish themselves.  

I checked the patch yesterday and they have started putting on growth already.  I have manure which I have put to one side while I test it for my veg & rhubarb  but I will be dressing the comfrey over the next week.  If you hear of an outbreak of triffids in Skelmersdale ..