SECOND OF FIVE PAGES OF COMFREY
decide to insert the plantlets 45cm apart in a single row in a 45cm-wide bed.
[Considerations: 1 -- this, at best, is the worst case. Bed space (especially bed space that is created in support of R J Harris's moon-gardening techniques) is better used for vegetable production; 2 -- an ideal location is at the foot of a garden fence which is low in height and of open structure, so that rain and sunshine are not impeded. Here, management (of which there is hardly any) is simplified, and the garden is provided with a season-long development of interesting foliage. Also, an associated, repeated show of wild-flower blossom is produced, helping -- importantly -- to draw in the bees and the other plant pollinators]
choose damp ground for the planting out, ground which is sunlit for most of the day and is well exposed to the rain.
[Considerations: 1-- if damp ground is not available, select places at which routine watering can be carried out easily. Being 95% water, comfrey repays handsomely when moistened regularly; 2 -- if a seep hose is in situ, extend it to the new plants and turn it on regularly by night for an hour or two to create the constantly damp conditions in which comfrey thrives]
divest the chosen ground of weed growth. Do so manually/ Use a garden fork. At the same time, loosen the ground's surface to the depth of the fork's tines
plant out each comfrey plantlet in the following way
excavate an approximately pot-sized, pot-shaped hole in the appropriate place. Use a trowel
place one of the pots in the hole. Take care not to damage its occupant
adjust the depth of the hole so that the pot's rim levels with the surrounding ground surface
firm earth around the pot
remove the pot. Do so with the utmost care, still safeguarding the contained plantlet. Leave a pot-shaped, pot-sized hollow in the ground
loosen the earth at the base of the hollow. Use a hand fork.
[Consideration: this prevents poor drainage. Poor drainage results in accumulated water, which is anathema to the plantlets' -- any plantlet's -- roots]
working as closely as possible to the waiting hollow, place a potted plantlet upright in the palm of one hand
place the fingers of the other hand over the top of the pot. Spread the fingers, so that they pass around the stem of the plantlet. By this means avoid touching and possibly damaging what is the plant's most sensitive feature -- which, if harmed, is likely to incur death for the plantlet
grip the top of the pot with the tips of the spread fingers. Turn the pot upside down
support the surface of the compost, still with the fingers spread out to avoid touching the comfrey plantlet's stem, and permit the pot's contents to slide out slowly. If necessary, initiate this and encourage it to happen by first tapping the upturned base of the pot gently once or twice with a knuckle
hold and support the pot-shaped, glistening compost root ball upside down in the palm of one hand. Place the empty pot to one side with the other
use both hands to turn the compost root ball upright. Do so with utmost gentleness and without compressing it
slip the root ball into the waiting hollow. Observwe that it fits the hollow perfectly
gently firm in the compost root ball. Depress its surface slightly below that of the surrounding ground in order to create a rain-collecting depression
use the emptied pot as a form when transplanting the remaining plantlets
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SECOND OF FIVE PAGES OF COMFREY
