How to Grow Borage

Borage (Borage officinalis),  is a Mediterranean annual herb that is very easy to grow. It has hairy leaves and stems with a 5 pointed blue flower. It is an annual plant and is so proficient in self-seeding, once a borage plant has established itself in your garden, you will likely never have to reseed again. Its culinary uses are numerous. The flowers, stems and leaves are all edible. The leaves can be used as a salad green and the flowers as edible decorations.

By following my simple tips, you will succeed and enjoy growing this wonderful herb!

Suggested Borage Varieties to shoose from and Grow!

Planting Borage 

Borage is best planted outdoors, sown directly in soil after all danger of the last frost have passed. Borage grows best in full sun but will still perform well in lightly shaded areas. It will grow fine in most soil types as long as they are mulched and kept moist.
Choose a site that is well protected from wind, and work in plenty of organic matter, such a well aged chicken manure prior to planting.

 

Plant the seeds at a depth of around ¼-inch in groups of 3 to 4, and spaced 15 inches "38cm" apart.

Barely cover the seeds with soil and water, take care not to over water.

The seedlings should appear in approximately 5 to 10 days. 

When they reach a height of 2 inches tall, thin back to 1 seedling every 15 inches, as borage occupies a lot of room once it matures.

Borage seedlings will survive light frosts.

Borage seedlings are edible only when very young.

Caring for Borage Plants 

Borage plant can be pinched or pruned, to encourage branching and to keep them shorter.

Borage will bloom for many weeks if the older flowers are trimmed off.

Benefits of Borage 

In the garden, the benefits of borage are so many from repelling pests such as hornworms, attracting pollinators, until aiding any plants it is interplanted with, by increasing resistance to pests and disease. Not only borage is beneficial to bees, but can improve the quality of other plants, as cucumber, beans, strawberry, squash and peas. If it's grown in conjunction with them.

Harvesting Borage 

When the plant starts flowering, you can harvest frequently to encourage more bloom-production.  The leaves and the flowers of borage are edible, with a flavor like a cucumber. As, the stalks and leaves are covered with fine, silvery hairs that tend to get pricklier as they mature. It’s wise to handle the plant with gloves while picking borage leaves. When picking borage leaves, select the young ones, which will have less of the little hairs. Just take scissors and snip right below a cluster of blossoms. Your borage plant will continue to produce side-shoots with more buds and flowers. Continual harvesting and deadheading will allow for a longer period of use.

Collecting Borage seeds 

Borage have seeds are easy to find, but they need to be picked at the right time when they are ripe. Collecting these seeds is a little tricky. When the plant has yellowed and matured, whereas the cluster still has flowers on it. You have to collect the seeds as soon as the flowers fade, because borage seeds drop soon after. 

Watch: How to Harvest Borage Flowers

Storing Borage Seeds 

When you have collected your seeds, place them on a kitchen paper to dry. After they are dry, the seeds should be stored in a glass jar in a dry, cool and dark place. 

 Borage, also known as starflower, This medicinal herb with edible leaves and flowers, is a beautiful plant to have around the garden.

Please let us know your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below. If you like this, you can share with your friends! 

Big selection of Organic Borage Seeds from Here!

Affiliate Disclosure: In transparency and compliance with legal guidelines, please be aware that some of the links on this site are affiliate links. These are carefully chosen products that I have personally used, tested, and genuinely recommend. When you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. This commission helps support the maintenance of this site, allowing me to continue providing valuable content and recommendations. Rest assured, my priority is to offer authentic and reliable information, and I only affiliate with products that align with the values and standards I uphold. Your trust means everything to me, and I appreciate your support. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for being a valued part of our community!{alertInfo}