comfrey from seed

I have question about 3 plants I want to grow from seed. Stinging Nettles , True Comfrey and Rhubarb. I just recieved seeds for these plants . I live in zone 6b
in Western Kentucky . It should be warm through the middle of September. Maybe into October. Do I have time to get these plants started and have them overwinter well? Should I start in pots or direct sow? Any help would be appreciated.

They're pretty vigorous as a seedling. Get them in the ground, give them all the warm months to establish and you'll have a patch forever...

Thank You - I have noticed there are many Posts and replies between 2am and 5am on permies.com. I guess I am not the only insomniac.

Or it's someone on the other side of the world...

Have a nice night !

I tried stinging nettles this year from seed, and so far, not too many seedlings and not in the places I expected.
I put them on a hugelbed, in a pot, compacted soils, uncompacted soils, lots of sun, less sun and moderate sun.
I have only noticed a few seedings so far, I am hoping more will come soon.
I have heard - I think on Paul's video -- that it is a "nitrogen hog'
Maybe soil here is low in that, or other conditions for sprouting aren't right.
I found one, under a giant tomato plant bareley wedged under a big stump.
I let more sun in to help it -- I think it preferred the shade cause it died (it could have been the urine i applied liberally -- for nitrogen?)
I had hoped and assumed they would be gangbusters already -- ?!
It seems to have sprouted on disturbed soil on my little plot -- maybe someone can speak to that?

M Marx wrote:I tried stinging nettles this year from seed, and so far, not too many seedlings and not in the places I expected.
I put them on a hugelbed, in a pot, compacted soils, uncompacted soils, lots of sun, less sun and moderate sun.
I have only noticed a few seedings so far, I am hoping more will come soon.
I have heard - I think on Paul's video -- that it is a "nitrogen hog'
Maybe soil here is low in that, or other conditions for sprouting aren't right.
I found one, under a giant tomato plant bareley wedged under a big stump.
I let more sun in to help it -- I think it preferred the shade cause it died (it could have been the urine i applied liberally -- for nitrogen?)
I had hoped and assumed they would be gangbusters already -- ?!
It seems to have sprouted on disturbed soil on my little plot -- maybe someone can speak to that?

Last I recalled the nettles are shade lovers.

Nettles and true comfrey are a lot easier to grow from root cuttings... any particular reason you want to grow them from seed?

Isaac, wish I had read your post before I ordered my comfrey. I just ordered both root and seed.

So now I will have to do some comfrey seed experiments and report back on it. They should be here in a day or so.

I am growing them from seed because I found a source. I have ordered Blocking 14 root cuttings but don't know of a source for true comfrey or nettles. Any one know of sources for those? I do enjoy the challenges of growing from seed , but I have plenty of other challenges to keep me occupied. I have 200 nettle seeds , I was going to spread them around in different areas , Pauls videos show them under old trees, which I have - to full sun . The old trees have some nesting birds - woodpeckers started the holes - so alot of woody debris and poop. I only have 10 true comfrey seeds. I am reading that I should break their dormacy by keeping them in moist soil in refrigerator for 1 month. That would put them in the ground the end of June , I think thats going to be too late. Maybe I will just put them where I want them and if they don't come up till next spring that will be fine. As I contemplate planting nettles in this region , I wonder if it is a plant that farmers have worked to eradicate in this region. I remember seeing a wanted poster - dead or alive - for the guy that brought kudzu into the south.
Makes me feel subversive. I hope it spreads all over , give the old boys another rash inducer besides ticks and poison ivy. Then I'll show them how to eat them.

I just ordered my comfrey (true comfrey) from horizonherbs.com. I have used them once before and am happy with them so far. I forgot about nettles - should have ordered them too.

If you are ordering stinging nettle ([i]Urtica dioica), I highly recommend http://jlhudsonseeds.net/SeedlistU-V.htm.
(The a! on the page indicates 1,000 - 10,000 seeds per pack...all for $2.50)

If you order from him, ASK for a catalog, and he will include it with the order.
In my opinion, his catalog belongs on every permie's book shelf. He has many hard to find permies seeds, and the catalog is a wealth of knowledge.