About Bocking 14

Lawrence D Hills was a British horticulturalist and writer. In 1954 he founded the Henry Doubleday Research Association (now Garden Organic), on 3/4 of an acre at Bocking near Braintree, Essex.

Whilst researching a book called Russian Comfrey, Hills discovered that this common plant was introduced into the UK in the nineteenth century by Henry Doubleday (1810-1902) who was an English scientist and horticulturalist and lived in Coggeshall in Essex.

Henry was a poor Quaker smallholder who was so intrigued by Comfrey's possibilities that he devoted the rest of his life to popularising it. The value of his work on the introduction of Comfrey was recognised and he was elected a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, however, his membership was never registered as he was unable to afford the fee. The full extent of Henry's work may never be known as his notes were burnt by his family after his death aged 92.

Hills realising the potential of Comfrey returned to Henry's land at Coggeshall and gathered all the Comfrey plants he could find in the hedgerows, strangled by grass but after all the years still alive. These plants were studied and propagated eventually being named Bocking after the place where he rented his land.

The experimental breeding andfield  trials of Comfrey resulted in over 20 Bocking cultivars, all given a number but many didn't meet the standards of performance that was required. Comfrey Bocking 14 however proved to be a very useful producing a high yield, high potash content, rust resistant and contains high levels of the healing principle, allantoin.

Comfrey Bocking 14 is a fast growing herbaceous perennial with large hairy leaves (may cause irritation, best to wear gloves when harvesting) and bell shaped purple to pink flowers. Comfrey Bocking 14, when established forms a large clump of leaves with flower stalks that grow tall. 

Wild Comfrey can become a problem as it sows itself all over your allotment or garden, however Bocking 14 variety does not set fertile seed. Once planted in the ground it will remain there for up to 20 years.

Mature Comfrey plants use their long roots to extract minerals and nutrients from the ground storing them in the leaves and stalks. These can be harvested several times per year. New leaves will grow from the crown.