Any plant cam be composted or buried in your garden, like comfrey, and has about the same value as a soil amendment.

Even weeds.

Any plant can be composted or buried, its true, but Comfrey is considered especially valuable to organic gardeners.

veggie, I took the time to read about this plant, as I had not been informed about its attributes until now. Very interesting.

Are you prepared to plant it and leave it? Its deep and extensive root system is what makes this plant a very successful "nutrient pump" (per one website).

As far as other useful plants, there are so many that are truly beneficial green manure crops. Some fix nitrogen in the soil, or add massive nutrient rich root systems that help loosen the soil and create a biomass in which essential microorganisms flourish. Do your research on cover crops.

lazy garden's response wasn't helpful, really. The Bocking hybrids are quite different from "any" plant. I hope that someone joins in who has actually used it and can provide some useful info.

I've added a link to a Mother Earth article about using green manure crops as well as the Google results of a search using cover crops as the key words. Lots of great info.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/green-manure-crops-zmaz86sozgoe

https://www.google.com/search?q=cover+crops&oq=cover+crops+&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l15.10167j0j4&sourceid=silk&ie=UTF-8

Comfrey isn't really a classic cover crop insofar as it is a longlived hardy perennial which is repeatedly harvested rather than killed and dug in. The foliage can be used to make a liquid or it can be composted, buried or used as a side dressing. Bocking 14 is recommended since it is sterile.

"Comfrey is considered especially valuable to organic gardeners."

Why? What special properties doe it have and how were they tested and proved?

Useful for organic growers since it doesn't require artificial synthesis. Check out the work of Lawrence D Hills and the Henry Double Day Research Association. This item gives info on the chemical composition.

Comfrey can help you out in several ways.

• It is prolific. You can harvest the leaves and then either chop and drop them in a garden bed as mulch, or add them to your compost.
• It's extensive and deep roots can break up poor soil and add nutrients if left on it's own for a couple of years.

It has a drawback - it is invasive. It is like a mint. Expect it to expand wherever it is planted. So know how you are going to deal with that, if it could be a problem.

Another good use for Comfrey is to plant it near fruit trees where it will still get some filtered sunlight. It will improve the soil and add nutrients for the trees.

If you plant it and don't move it is it invasive? I thought the blocking 14 was sterile and only spread by root division-so it you dnot dig the root will it still spread?

Bocking 14 will still expand slowly but will not set seed and won't run riot. Nothing like mint.