Borage

Borage

Latin name: Borago officinalis

Borage is an annual, fast-growing herb with beautiful, star-shaped blue flowers and hairy green leaves. The plant is both decorative and edible – the flowers are often used as a garnish in salads, drinks and desserts, while the leaves have a mild cucumber-like flavor and can be used in salads, soups and sauces. Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees and other pollinators to the garden.

Cultivation information:

• Packaging: 2 g seeds
• Sowing time: April–July (direct sowing)
• Harvest time: June–September
• Sowing depth: 1 cm
• Plant distance: 30–40 cm
• Row spacing: 40 cm
• Height: 60–90 cm
• Location: Sun to partial shade
• Soil type: Nutritious, well-drained and moisture-retaining soil
• Watering: Regular, but tolerates some drought

Cultivation tips:

• Self-injures easily and often comes back year after year.
• Cut off the flowers for a longer blooming period.
• Can be grown in a pot or directly in the open field.

Uses: The flowers are edible and used as a garnish in salads, drinks and desserts. The leaves can be used fresh in salads or cooked like spinach.

Borage is a beautiful and easy-to-grow herb that is both an ornament in the garden and an excellent addition to cooking!