borage | Borago officinalis
borage or Borago officinalis
A wonderfully useful as well as decorative plant. The young leaves and vivid blue flowers of this annual herb have a fresh cucumber-like flavour, so are often used in salads, soups, chilled drinks or simply as a garnish. The flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects, while the foliage has been known to reduce attacks of hornworm when planted between tomato plants. At the end of the year, add the plants to the compost heap as they will promote many beneficial minerals. Borage is an annual plant, but it will self-seed readily in good conditions. Dead-heading the flowers as soon as they fade reduces self-seeding.
How to care for Borago officinalis:
Avoid root disturbance by planting it in a spot that they can settle into and keep well watered during drier periods. To prevent self-seeding, deadhead the spent flowers before the seed has a chance to ripen.
Sowing instructions:
Form shallow drills at 30cm intervals in a well prepared bed, and sow thinly, just covering the seed before watering well. The seeds have a higher germination rate when temperatures are between 15-25°C, so early sowings can be covered with a cloche. When big enough to handle, thin the seedlings to 25cm.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.75m
Eventual spread:
0.5m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
approx 75 organic seeds
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