HOW TO PROPAGATE

There are two main ways to break up a comfrey plant: vertically or horizontally. the ideal time to do this is just before spring, when the leaves have completely died down and the plant is in its dormant phase for winter. It’s a good idea to break up comfrey plants every four to five years, even if you only use the roots for liquid manure, as it invigorates the plants and stimulates leaf production.

Method 1: Horizontal split take a strong, mature comfrey plant and drive a spade through the ground horizontally, about 7cm below the soil surface.

You have effectively removed the crown, which you can now split into pieces to plant out. Don’t worry; the original plant will recover.

Method 2: Vertical split

Loosen the soil on one side of a mature comfrey plant with a fork.

Using a spade, cut straight down through the centre of the plant, splitting it into two.

Dig up the loosened half and fill the hole left with compost or soil. Again, the half left in the ground will recover and be just as productive as the other plants in a year’s time.