Help finding quality comfrey Bocking 14 in Canada + other Zone 4ish food and permie perennials

I'm looking to find some high quality large (three year, or two year) roots of Bocking 14 Comfrey (this is for field fodder, dynamic accumulation, biomass production... and more) for my devious plots on local domination!

I do not want wild comfrey, or common comfrey (I can get all of that that I want, locally, but do not want seeding plants). I want plants that only propagate from root cuttings. Bocking 4 would work for me if 14 was not available.

These have to come from Canada because the U.S. companies do not ship here. Anybody in Canada got some, or know where I can get it?

Also, anybody from Zone 3 or 4 with interesting foody perennial divisions that you would like to sell some, please post here, also.

Ditto this, I'd love a good source of bocking 14.

I don't think I've ever heard bocking 4, or any other variant beyond 14, mentioned off of this forum.


If I end up with extra plants this year I'll let you know, though I think the only stuff I might have that would be possibly hardy in your zone would be mulberries and elderberries.

It's not Canada, but they should ship to Canada:
https://www.organiccatalogue.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=Comfrey&search_in_description=0&sb=t&x=-734&y=-65

Just in case you can't find any bocking 14 comfrey in Canada. I have my comfrey and some garlic from there, and they sell good quality.

Contact Portage Perennials - that's where I got mine (I'm in NB and I feel your pain finding stuff). https://portageperennials.wordpress.com/. Good luck!

I am selling plants incl. comfrey however I would need to see if I can ship into BC. As far as I remember there are some restrictions with BC.
prairietough.ca

I should also mention I have lots more planned for this summer.

Thanks, Everyone. After I started this thread, I did find that Richters sells both 4 and 14.

Thanks Monica Eger; It looks as though I will be able to find it in Canada.

Hi Simone Gar;

Where in Alberta are you? I'm not far from the Alberta border on Highway 16, about 5 hours west of Edmonton, and it is not unheard of for me to venture that way on occasion. I might be able to arrange pick up from Alberta relatives also. Do you know what kind of comfrey you have? Where did you get your comfrey stock? What are your growing methods? What other plants do you have for division and sale?

Hi S Usvy;

I checked out the portage perennials website, and really like their angle on things. I read a bunch of what they had to say about what they are doing, and I share a lot of their methods/ideas. This might be the best fit for me, but I don't know yet. I had a bit of a hard time navigating their site to find information about what they are offering to sell, but I think I will just call or email them to see what they have to offer.

Hi Dillon Nichols;

Some mulberries do grow here. What variety do you have, and what rootstock was it grafted on? I do have wild elderberries (red) on the property and can get as many of them from the bush as I want. Do you have red, or blue elder? I might be interested in any non-red elder. What are your growing methods? Oh, and FYI: Besides Rickters in Canada, Bocking 4 is mentioned on several American distributer sites, and is remarked upon quite a bit along with 14 in this Jack Spirko Podcast on comfrey, which I recommend anybody interested in Comfrey to listen to.

Thanks again, everyone, for your time and responses.

Roberto pokachinni wrote:
Hi Simone Gar;

Where in Alberta are you? I'm not far from the Alberta border on Highway 16, about 5 hours west of Edmonton, and it is not unheard of for me to venture that way on occasion. I might be able to arrange pick up from Alberta relatives also. Do you know what kind of comfrey you have? Where did you get your comfrey stock? What are your growing methods? What other plants do you have for division and sale?

I am just north of Calgary.
The comfrey I have is most likely/supposedly bocking 14 not 4 but I can't guarantee that. I got the roots from a friend who got it from a herbalist. However there was no tag, so I am not advertising the #. My growing methods are all natural, no chemicals, permaculture style, not sure you want to hear. Anything specific?
For other plants, please see my homepage under herbs (prairietough.ca). I have more in the pipeline for 2016, what are you looking for?

Edit: Here is the link to the comfrey I am selling on my homepage: https://prairietough.wordpress.com/products/herbs-more/russian-comfrey/

Hi Simone: I like your site. I like your focus on tough outdoor natural growing!, Great name too. I have an Auntie in Nisku; is that close to you, or are you a lot further South? Have you noticed the comfrey producing viable seed? I would rather know for certain what plants I am getting, in case I want to sell them myself at some point. So until I am knowledgeable to tell the difference between the varieties, I probably should not choose comfrey as the best option of your lists. I would more likely be interested in growing out some of your other herbs though. How do you do your propagation of these herbs? Do you just spread seeds on the ground, or in pots, or do you propagate only from root division?

Roberto pokachinni wrote:Hi Simone: I like your site. I like your focus on tough outdoor natural growing!, Great name too. I have an Auntie in Nisku; is that close to you, or are you a lot further South? Have you noticed the comfrey producing viable seed? I would rather know for certain what plants I am getting, in case I want to sell them myself at some point. So until I am knowledgeable to tell the difference between the varieties, I probably should not choose comfrey as the best option of your lists. I would more likely be interested in growing out some of your other herbs though. How do you do your propagation of these herbs? Do you just spread seeds on the ground, or in pots, or do you propagate only from root division?

Thanks!
Nisku is up around Edmonton I think. I am literally North of Calgary.
I have the Russian comfrey which is sterile, only produces via root cuttings. I can guarantee that.
I grow 100% outdoors, either direct sown or started in containers and then transplanted. It depends on the seeds or plant type. Comfrey of course is root cuttings only, I dig some up and stick them in pots. Some herbs like true peppermint is also a sterile hybrid so I would grow that from cuttings or division too. However mostly I grow from seeds. I will be adding trees in the near future. I have a trial plot with seedlings, started some cuttings and also trialing growing sea buckthorn, edible (and medicinal!) pine, high bush cranberry and blueberry and elder (nigra/black - edible) from seed right now. I don't have anything to sell yet. Maybe by fall. It's more in the experimental stage.
Some other plants I am going to try for 2016 (sneak peak, not sure yet if they are fit for selling though): white borage, hyssop in pink and white, sweet cicely, different mint types, massive amounts of wormwood (my new favourite), Thymus pulegioides, egyptian walking onions, motherwort, horehound, ramps and ramson.

One word on Richters btw: Do you research. Read reviews on Dave's Garden. I had terrible results with their seeds unfortunately. Unacceptable germination rates, it almost blew my herb season last year. Not saying don't order but read the reviews and decide for yourself. I wish somebody would have pointed that out to me last year.

HI Simone, I'm sad that you had bad luck with Richters; I have only had decent experience with their seeds, but that was years ago. Thanks for the warning.

Yeah, Nisku is just South of Edmonton. So you are right on the edge of Calgary. That's alright. I still might be able to swing by on an adventure!

Congratulations, by the way, on starting your company and getting through your first year! Super awesome and inspiring! I loved your manure managers and pest control! I showed my Dad who got a kick out of the cat and horses!

This is much the same direction that I am heading. Sadly, I am working like hell at a job that I'm not super happy at in order to get the main debt of the land and infrastructure off my back. It's a big deal. I'm halfway to paying off the land, in three years of scrimping but I really just want to retire to the project... just can't make the leap yet. ...But I do want to start getting past the annual garden stage and get some perennials into the soil, and start establishing my inventory.

I think that you have made some good choices in your herb and berry selections. Most of these are on the list that I have been compiling and I will add the ones I don't have. Are you growing the black elder from seed, or a cutting?

When you say edible pine are you talking about pine nuts? I have been curious about growing some native pine nut varieties since I toured around the U.S. Southwest and ate the local pinon pine nuts in volume! When I went to the Bullock Brothers Permaculture farm on Orcas Island in Washington State, they were trialing a lot of different pine nut species.

Cool that your comfrey is one of the sterile hybrids; that makes it marketable for you, for sure. I think that I will hold off on ordering that from you though, for the reasons stated in my last post. I really want to know exactly what I have.

I am going to try to grow a schwack of herbs this year from seed and cuttings. Thankfully my parents will be around to assist (the plan is that they will be slowly moving onto the project and land along with me as part of their retirement that has begun, and mine that will hopefully start soon). If I have success, I may not need to buy any from you or anywhere, but, I may want to get some near the end of the season (whatever might still be available), and heel them in or insulated them heavily with straw and sawdust for spring release. ?? Not sure. ?? I may get back to you sooner than later and pre-buy some of your starts.

Maybe if I really get my shit together, we may be able to make some interesting exchanges of plant material in the next few years. You really have me inspired. I'm super happy you connected on this thread.

Regardless of whether or not I purchase anything from you this year, I wish you, your husband, your critters, your plants, your soil, and your business to flourish!

Try to get in touch with Mike Haych, a Canadian member/seller. I bought comfrey from him last year and it is glorious. He's got Bocking 4 and Bocking 14. My order arrived in good condition and well-labeled (I ordered both Bocking 4 and 14). The plants are thriving. He sells crowns, not root cuttings.
Good luck.

https://permies.com/t/45140/resources/Comfrey-Root-Cuttings-Sale-Canada

Just to avoid confusion - Mike is the guy from Portage Perennials. And yes, my plants arrived in good order as well.
https://portageperennials.wordpress.com/

Roberto pokachinni wrote:
Regardless of whether or not I purchase anything from you this year, I wish you, your husband, your critters, your plants, your soil, and your business to flourish!

Thanks a lot Roberto.
I grow Elder from both, cuttings and seeds. I am still experiementing a lot and want to see what works better.
Regarding the pines, yes edible pine nuts. Swiss Stone Pine and potentially soon Korean and Siberian Pine. My interest really lies with the Swiss Stone though as the wood is medinical too. Not sure about Korean and Siberian.

Comfrey in Canada - https://permies.com/t/45140/resources/Comfrey-Root-Cuttings-Sale-Canada

Monica Eger wrote:It's not Canada, but they should ship to Canada:
https://www.organiccatalogue.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=Comfrey&search_in_description=0&sb=t&x=-734&y=-65

Just in case you can't find any bocking 14 comfrey in Canada. I have my comfrey and some garlic from there, and they sell good quality.

It's highly unlikely that they will ship plants to Canada since they will be seized if they are not accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

I have shipped cuttings to canada and many other countries over the past few years with no problem.

http://marshcreek.farm

jonathan christ wrote:I have shipped cuttings to canada and many other countries over the past few years with no problem.

http://marshcreek.farm

You were lucky, or rather the recipients were lucky. It's very clear what CFIA regulations say. There's no problem trying but folks on this side of the border should be aware of what could happen. BTW, AFAIK, they just seize the stuff and nothing more. If you are a commercial operation, they do more than seize the material. You can get fined but as far as I can tell when I last looked at their site, there were only company names listed.

Mike Haych wrote:

jonathan christ wrote:I have shipped cuttings to canada and many other countries over the past few years with no problem.

http://marshcreek.farm

You were lucky, or rather the recipients were lucky. It's very clear what CFIA regulations say. There's no problem trying but folks on this side of the border should be aware of what could happen. BTW, AFAIK, they just seize the stuff and nothing more. If you are a commercial operation, they do more than seize the material. You can get fined but as far as I can tell when I last looked at their site, there were only company names listed.

Curious....all of my shipments to other countries have come through ebay. Maybe the mail workers didnt know what comfrey was??

I can ship Canada wide. Prairietough.ca to order online. We ship in June and August.