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Borage

Borage

Borage is an annual herb in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. The flowers are perfect with five narrow, triangular-pointed petals which are most often blue, although pink flowers are sometimes observed. White-flowered types are also cultivated. The blue flower is genetically dominant over the white flower. Usually, borage grows roughly 40 cm (16 in) wide, but if the soil is fertile, the plant can grow to 60 cm (24 in). The height may grow 1 to 2 ft. tall.

Traditionally, borage was cultivated for culinary, ornamental, and medicinal uses. Its other common
names are: Starflower, Bee fodder, Bee-bread, Burrage, Common bugloss, Cool tankard, and Ox’s
tongue.

Introduction
Mr. John Doe

Head Director

Description

Optimal Time/Temperature for Germination:
Borage can manage all climates except extremely cold ones. Hardiness zones are 2 to 11. Sow the seed in spring for summer flowering or sow in the autumn for spring flowering.
Optimal Soil Conditions:
Select a sunny spot in the garden for at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. Borage will tolerate partial shade though. Borage likes most soil types provided they’re well aerated, moist, and mulched. Its favorite soil type is sandy. The best soil pH for borage is between 4.0 to 8.5. Borage self-sows readily and can spread rapidly. Cut back often or grow in containers where this presents a problem. It will grow well indoors in a container of quality, moist potting mixture.
Seed Planting Depth, Spacing and Procedure:
Borage is best sown direct in the garden via seed. Bury about 3 to 4 seeds a half-inch deep into the soil when cultivating. Thin out the Borage seedlings to leave 60cm (2 feet) between the plants. They don’t transplant well once already established (If you do try transplanting, the tip cuttings from a mature borage plant can be placed in sandy soil in spring. Keep the soil damp and place cuttings in the garden when they have taken hold but before they’re too established).
Best Companion Plants and Plants that Hinder:
Borage, itself, is a good companion plant – especially with strawberries. It is said to protect or nurse legumes, spinach, brassicas. Other companions to borage are basil, pumpkin, zucchini, cabbage, corn, radish, squash, beans, peas, eggplant, marigold, and peppers. It is also said to be a good companion plant to tomatoes because it confuses the mother moths of tomato hornworms or manduca looking for a place to lay their eggs.Potatoes are carriers of blight disease. Of all nightshade plants, potato is the only plant that poses an attack on the Borage herb. Avoid planting the two plants together.

Growing Instructions

Crop Maintenance

Moisture Requirements & Solutions:
Keep watered regularly but don’t over water. Water your plants after the previous waterings have dried up.
Weeding Needs & Solutions:
You don’t need to cut borage back in the spring. The only thing you have to do is remove weeds when the plant is still small.
Feeding Needs/Optimal Natural Fertilizers:
Fertilize the soil with compost or manure frequently for a healthy borage Plant. Grow a living mulch with your herb to conserve moisture.
Pests, Diseases & Solutions:
Borage is packed with minerals that are helpful to the soil, plants, and individuals. When decomposed it can serve as compost and a source of enrichment to the soil. It is even a natural pest repellent for plants. Aphids and Japanese Beetles are drawn to borage plants and feed on their leaves. Aphids can be kept at bay with a strong spray of water from the hose, while the beetles can be easily handpicked off the plant and placed in a jar of soapy water to eliminate them. Powdery mildew can occur in damp conditions or in areas of high humidity . To prevent the disease, make sure the plant has sufficient air circulation, plenty of sunlight, and that they are properly watered.
When to Harvest/Number of days to maturity:
Expect maturity of the borage plant about 8 weeks after planting. The flowers appear at an early stage and can be picked during summer growth for use in culinary ways. When picking flowers, choose those that are open (some think that they are best picked before they open if you want to preserve their color).
How to Harvest:
Simply pick off the leaves and flowers you need by hand or use garden scissors. They are best eaten fresh after harvesting, though you also can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days. The stems can be quite brittle; if they appear to be leaning oddly, stake them up.
Optimal Storage temperature and conditions:
Basically, Borage leaves cannot be stored and must be used fresh when harvested. The young stalks are also edible so prepare them as you would celery or similar vegetables. Some ideas for use include: Placing the young leaves into salads cooked like spinach or dipped in batter as fritters. Use the leaves uncooked in salads and soups, as they have a cucumber flavor. Add sprigs to cider and fruit drinks. Freeze the flowers into ice cubes. Candy the flowers for cake decorations.
Optimal Preserving Procedures:
Seed Saving:
Since this plant self-seeds readily, you won’t need to plant it again (it is not invasive). The plant is also commercially cultivated for borage seed oil extracted from its seeds.

Harvest and Storage

Notes

Bees love borage flowers. The flower has a sweet, honey-like taste and the plant has a cucumber-like taste. Internal use of whole borage leaf is not recommended these days for caution to toxicity for people and pets. (please do research – no more than 10 mcg of unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloid consumption each day.)

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