How To Grow Borage Seeds
Updated on Dec 28, 2021
By Shannon McCabe
Cucumber-flavored fresh leaves are added to salads, cooked, or made into a cooling drink. The blue flowers are used as a garnish. Makes a good honey plant. Also used medicinally. Add the flowers to drinks, use them to decorate cakes, or crystalize them.
HISTORY
The Roman author, naturalist and philosopher Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79) said "Borage always brings courage."
USES
- Borage deters hornworms from tomatoes.
- Many culinary uses, from salads to tea.
- Seeds germinate in 7-14 days.
- Plant 1/4- 1/2 inch deep, 12 " apart.
- Plants need 6-12 hours of sun per day.
- Ideal germination temperature is 60-80 F.
- Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked.
- Succession plant for longer blooming season.
- Frequently reseeds itself year after year.
- Annual to 2 ft.
PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Damping off and powdery mildew are some of the most common problems and are caused by a fungus. Avoid this by not over watering and giving the plants good circulation.
- For aphids, introduce or attract predators like lady beetles and wasps into the garden.
- Sometimes a strong spray or an insecticidal soap will work.
- Readily self seeds.
- Harvest the large seeds when they are fully ripe. The flower will fade, and hang upside down. They will ripen from green to brown.
- When the tips of the buds and where they attach to the stalk start turning brown and yellow, allow the seeds to continue to ripen.
- Place on a plate and leave seeds in the bud to dry; they will start to fall out by themselves.
- You can shake into a cup to encourage them to fall out.
