Borage
Borage is a hardy annual with a sprawling, somewhat bushy habit and hairy stems and leaves. It produces a constant supply of star-shaped bright blue flowers that hang in downward clusters. The vivid blue blossoms are edible and have a mild cucumber-like flavor. In the garden, borage is a beneficial insect magnet and one of the best bee-forage plants you can grow. It's actually nicknamed "bee bread" for this reason! Borage also attracts tiny wasps and other predatory insects that help with pest control, helping to deter pests like hornworms and cabbage worms.
- This is an annual open-pollinated seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-10.
- Each packet will have a little over 50 seeds.
- This plant has edible flowers.
- This plant attracts pollinators.
Borage is a hardy annual with a sprawling, somewhat bushy habit and hairy stems and leaves. It produces a constant supply of star-shaped bright blue flowers that hang in downward clusters. The vivid blue blossoms are edible and have a mild cucumber-like flavor. In the garden, borage is a beneficial insect magnet and one of the best bee-forage plants you can grow. It's actually nicknamed "bee bread" for this reason! Borage also attracts tiny wasps and other predatory insects that help with pest control, helping to deter pests like hornworms and cabbage worms.
- This is an annual open-pollinated seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-10.
- Each packet will have a little over 50 seeds.
- This plant has edible flowers.
- This plant attracts pollinators.
Borage is a hardy annual with a sprawling, somewhat bushy habit and hairy stems and leaves. It produces a constant supply of star-shaped bright blue flowers that hang in downward clusters. The vivid blue blossoms are edible and have a mild cucumber-like flavor. In the garden, borage is a beneficial insect magnet and one of the best bee-forage plants you can grow. It's actually nicknamed "bee bread" for this reason! Borage also attracts tiny wasps and other predatory insects that help with pest control, helping to deter pests like hornworms and cabbage worms.
- This is an annual open-pollinated seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-10.
- Each packet will have a little over 50 seeds.
- This plant has edible flowers.
- This plant attracts pollinators.
Growing Instructions
Borage is an annual that can be grown nearly anywhere in the United States. It’s best to sow borage seeds directly in the garden since the plants form long taproots that don’t like being transplanted. Sow seeds outdoors as soon as the danger of a hard frost is past. Optimal germination happens when soil temps are around 60-70°. Simply scatter the seeds and cover with about 1/4" of soil. Because each plant can get 2–3 feet tall and bushy, space them about 12"–18" apart. They will germinate in 5-10 days and grow rapidly. The plant will start blooming roughly 8 weeks after seeding and will keep producing new flowers continuously. Borage thrives in full sun but will tolerate part shade. It isn’t fussy about soil, and it even does well in poor or sandy soils as long as there is decent drainage. Water regularly until plants are established, and after that, they can tolerate drought but will flower more prolifically with moderate moisture. You typically won't need to fertilize borage at all (too much fertilizer can cause them to get floppy).
| 👍 Good companions | Squash, strawberries, cucumbers, melons, peppers, and tomatoes (famous for repelling pests and attracting pollinators to these crops) | ||
| 👎 Bad companions | No known bad companions! | ||
| Growing zones | 2-10 | Crop type | Annual |
| Crop difficulty | Easy | Seed type | Open-Pollinated |
| Sowing method | Both | Containers? | Large/Bed |
| Sun req. | Full Sun | Ideal soil temp. | 50-70°F |
| Days to germination | 7-14 days | Days to maturity | 50-60 days |
| Seed spacing | 12" | Row spacing | 12" |
| Seed depth | 1/4" | Needs support? | No |