Comfrey

I am curious if anyone here on permies has done any comparisons on the available varieties of comfrey.  I have acquired both the Bocking 4 and 14 strains and they are getting started nicely.  I am still trying to figure out how best to keep them segregated. Also  how to allow the deer to eat some of the growth on the Bocking 4 stain which supposedly can be used for fodder while not allowing them to kill it.  I realize that once it is established even a large herd of deer probably couldn't kill it, but I am talking about until it is well established.  I have some ideas about cages to allow it to grow through but protect it closest to the ground.  I just haven't come up with what I yet consider a really creative and reliable means of doing this.

Thanks

Ralph, if you have some chicken wire put it over the row of comfrey. The deer dont like to step on it at all. Then when it is well established take the chicken wire back up (like when you take the first cut). Like you said once it is going you can't stop it.

some interesting comfrey info

If money is tight and you're not in a huge rush, dig some up around the biggest plants and replant roots.  You don't have to be overly particular when planting.  I'm starting a plot next to the woods, along with the garden.  This will be their first spring by the woods.  If they survived the winter and berry briars, I'm going to till them up to reestablish the roots and get a good plot going.

Ralph,

I have some high deer pressure at my property and they seem to leave my comfrey alone, so before spending too much time and/or energy to protect your comfrey plants, perhaps you can use a couple of your plants as test plants to see if your deer eat it.

M

However Ralph;  If you have pigs... they will do their best to eat it all!  With an establish plant I doubt they could truly do it damage... that stuff grows like weeds !

Ralph Kettell wrote:I am curious if anyone here on permies has done any comparisons on the available varieties of comfrey.  I have acquired both the Bocking 4 and 14 strains and they are getting started nicely.  I am still trying to figure out how best to keep them segregated. Also  how to allow the deer to eat some of the growth on the Bocking 4 stain which supposedly can be used for fodder while not allowing them to kill it.  I realize that once it is established even a large herd of deer probably couldn't kill it, but I am talking about until it is well established.  I have some ideas about cages to allow it to grow through but protect it closest to the ground.  I just haven't come up with what I yet consider a really creative and reliable means of doing this.

Thanks

Instead of just planting comfrey you might want to consider a mixed planting of alfalfa, field peas, rape, buckwheat, hairy vetch, sweet clover, crimson clover (no red clover for deer) and maybe even add in some annual rye.
This sort of cover planting will withstand feeding pressure faster and over a longer period of time, plus you will have lots of roots working their magic on the soil.

Redhawk