How to Grow Borage: 5 Tips for Growing Borage

IIf you’ve ever tried to grow comfrey for fertilizer and soil benefits in the low desert, you know it can be a struggle. Borage gives you a lot of the same benefits and is much easier to grow here.

One seed can turn into a surprisingly large plant. And I mean large. Borage takes up more space than most people expect, so placement matters. But in the right spot, it earns its place. Bees and ladybugs are drawn to it, the blue-purple flowers are genuinely pretty, and once it’s happy, it will drop plenty of seeds for next season.

It’s become one of my favorite cool-season companion plants. In this post, I’ll show you how to grow it and walk you through making a basic liquid fertilizer using borage leaves.

1. Learn the benefits of growing borage

Borage is a true champion for attracting bees and other beneficial pollinators to your garden. The plant’s beautiful blue-purple flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other flying insects, who are drawn to the nectar and pollen produced by the plant.

Because borage blooms for an extended period of time, it provides a consistent source of food for pollinators throughout the growing season. This not only helps to support local bee populations, but it can also increase pollination rates in your garden, leading to bigger, healthier, and more abundant harvests.

Borage is often recommended as a companion plant for vegetables like tomatoes, squash, and peppers, which benefit from increased pollination rates.

Borage is also known for its numerous health benefits, making it a popular choice in herbal medicine. The plant is rich in essential fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which has been linked to numerous health benefits.

The leaves and flowers of borage also contain antioxidants, such as caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid, which can help to protect against oxidative stress and cellular damage. Additionally, borage has been used for centuries to soothe coughs, calm an upset stomach, and promote overall well-being.

2. Plant borage at the right time

When to plant borage:

Borage is a hardy, annual plant that is typically sown directly into the garden in the spring once the soil has warmed up and all danger of frost has passed. The ideal soil temperature for planting is 70°F. 

In temperate regions, borage can also be planted in the fall, several weeks before the first expected frost, provided that there is sufficient time for the plant to become established before winter.

In the low desert of Arizona, plant borage seeds beginning in October and plant through January. Borage grows well until temperatures heat up in early summer.

3. Plant and care for borage correctly

How to plant borage:

• Borage has a long taproot and does best when planted from seeds. Click here for 100% Heirloom, non-GMO borage seeds. 
• Plant borage seeds ¼-½ inches deep, 12-18 inches apart. Keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout. 
• Borage grows large, up to 3 feet tall and wide. Give plants plenty of room.

Where to plant borage:

• Borage grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade.
• For square-foot gardening, plant 1 borage per 2-3 square feet.

How to care for borage:

• Borage is a tough plant and can tolerate some neglect. 
• Water borage well until plant is established. The more water borage receives, the larger the plant becomes. 
• Borage does not require additional fertilizer. 
• Borage reseeds easily. Each borage flower develops into several seeds; harvest flowers before seeds form to prevent reseeding. Save seeds to plant next season.

How to grow borage in containers:

• Borage has a long taproot and does best in at least 8 inches deep containers. 
• Borage plants grow large; they grow best in their own container. 

4. Harvest borage at the best time

• Harvest new leaves before bristles develop for the best flavor. 
• Pick flowers as soon as they appear. Picking flowers often encourages more production. 
• At the end of the season, leave a few flowers on the plant to save seeds. 
• Borage leaves and flowers taste like cucumbers. Use them in drinks, salads, sandwiches, or desserts.

Learn more about growing and using edible flowers in this blog post.

5. Learn how to use borage – don’t let it go to waste!

• Chop up borage and use it as a chop-and-drop mulch.
• Add borage to the compost pile at the end of the season; it makes excellent compost. 
• Use borage leaves to make liquid fertilizer (similar to comfrey). (See directions below)

Making a liquid fertilizer using borage leaves is a great way to give your plants a nutrient boost. Here’s a simple recipe to make your own:

Ingredients for fertilizer made with borage leaves:

• Borage leaves (enough to fill a quart-sized jar)
• Water
• Quart-sized jar with lid

Instructions for making fertilizer with borage leaves:

1. Rinse the borage leaves in cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
   
2. Chop the leaves into small pieces and add them to the quart-sized jar.
   
3. Fill the jar with water, leaving about an inch of space at the top.
   
4. Screw on the lid tightly and shake the jar vigorously to mix the ingredients.
   
5. Place the jar in a dark, cool place (like a pantry) for two weeks. Shake the jar once a day to help distribute the nutrients in the leaves.
   
6. After two weeks, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the solids.
   
7. Pour the liquid fertilizer into a bottle with a lid for storage.
   

How to use fertilizer made with borage leaves:

To use the fertilizer, dilute it with water at a 1:10 ratio (one part fertilizer to ten parts water). Apply to the soil around the base of your plants every two weeks for optimal growth and health.

Note: Always test the fertilizer on a small area of your plants before applying it to your entire garden to ensure your plants do not have an adverse reaction.