GROWING BORAGE
Borage is the starry-eyed dreamer of the herb garden—a wild yet gentle companion with blossoms like tiny blue stars scattered across the sky. Its flowers nod softly in the breeze, carrying a whisper of cucumber and honey, while its leaves bring a refreshing brightness to summer drinks and salads. Bees adore it beyond measure; plant a patch and you’ll soon have a loyal hum of pollinators drifting through your garden, thanking you with every golden sip they take.
HOW TO
-
When to Plant - Borage loves to be sown where it will grow, with roots set firmly in place. Sow the seeds directly outdoors in spring, once the soil has warmed and all hint of frost has fled. Scatter the seeds with a light hand, as though tossing stardust, covering them with just a brush of earth.
-
Soil & Position - This is not a fussy herb. Borage will cheerfully thrive in ordinary soil, as long as it’s free-draining. Choose a sunny spot if you can—the flowers shine brightest where the sun lingers—but it will also tolerate a little dappled shade, weaving itself gently into the edges of beds and borders.
-
Watering & Care - Water young plants as they find their footing, then let them become almost self-reliant. Once established, borage is a sturdy soul, needing little more than an occasional drink during dry spells. A layer of mulch at its base will keep the soil soft and the roots content.
-
Growth & Self-Seeding -Borage grows quickly, stretching into a handsome mound of leaves crowned with tumbling blue flowers. It is generous to a fault—allow it to set seed and you’ll soon find new seedlings sprouting nearby, ready to carry on the starry show the following year.
-
Harvesting - Pick the flowers fresh, dropping them like jewels into ice cubes, cordials, or salads for a little edible wonder. The young leaves, with their cool cucumber flavour, can be snipped and stirred into summer drinks or lightly wilted as a green. Always pick tenderly, leaving enough for bees to feast upon too.
View our tips and recipes on how to use.