Growing Borage, also Burrage, Bugloss

Borago officinalis : Boraginaceae / the borage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P              

(Best months for growing Borage in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-10 weeks. Use leaves before flowers appear, otherwise they will be 'hairy'. .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Strawberry, tomatoes, zucchini/squash. Deters pests from many plants.

Your comments and tips

03 Jul 18, Ali babakhanian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi where can I buy borage seed.?
04 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Boondie - New Life Seeds - The Seed Collection Company
03 Jul 18, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Green Harvest sells borage seed
29 Jun 18, Vicky Jacklin (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am trying to attract bees to the garden and believe they love Borage. I live in Durban KZN and would like to fill two pots with Borage. Any other suggestions to attract bees to the garden bearing in mind that we have a troop of about 20 monkeys that destroy everything. They have pulled out my dianthus but strangely enough the Violas haven't been touched. I believe that placing a spoon of sugar water in strategic places also attracts bees?
10 Jul 18, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Borage, lavender, rosemary and thyme will attract bees and are not likely to be very attractive to monkeys English lavender bushes aren't as soft as Italian or French lavender so they would be a better choice
12 Mar 18, Helen Rowe (Australia - tropical climate)
Can I grow Borage in far North Queensland have tried once didn't have too much success
13 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
It says here plant from May June - try then.
18 Jan 18, Helen Brown (Australia - temperate climate)
I have painted Borage flowers with egg white and then sprinkled them with fine sugar, very pretty cake decoration, they will last a long time in air tight container if perfectly dried before storage. Freshly picked Borage flowers and Marigold petals, when sprinkled over salad, will win you a 10 out of 10 for presentation
29 Nov 17, JB (Australia - temperate climate)
I would be careful when planting it as a companion in among other plants because it grows very large and spreads everywhere and can actually end up shading other plants and taking up a lot of room. It's a great way to attract bees though so I would recommend setting an area where there is space for it to grow aside and planting it there. It flowers pretty much all year round and pops up absolutely everywhere once it gets going which is good because you can cut it back or pull it out when it's in the way and you know it will appear again later somewhere in the garden.
21 Apr 16, Raewyn McConnell (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Our Borrage plants, in a bed of light, well drained but nourishing soil, have grown wonderfully and are now in full flower (22.4.2016) They are large, but are showing signs of what appears to be collar rot. Could this be because they were mulched and it is an unseasonally damp summer, or because they have grown larger than usual and become too close together; shutting out sun to the roots? Need to know for the safety of future crops.
Showing 21 - 30 of 51 comments

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