Borage

[SusieG]

The massive borage plant in my herb bed has started to look very straggly.

It obviously needs cutting back ~ but how much do I cut back, please..?

And will it grow back next year .....?

[KevinM67]

Sorry SusieG- I can't really help, as I know nothing about it.

I'm just curious to know what it's like, and what you grow it for.

As a herb - does it taste good ?
Do you use it for its flowers, and for pollination?

Sorry for jumping on the thread.

[SusieG]

No prob, Kev .........I grow it for the pollinators ~ it has masses of gorgeous small blue flowers and was laden with bees - and the young leaves can be eaten, a bit cucumber-like in flavour (so I have been told, not actually tried them myself.........)

[cheops]

I'm afraid Susie borage is an annual but the good news is it self seeds easily. If it has set seed and they have dropped I'd pull the plant out and you will have more new plants than you need need next spring. Or collect some seed for you to sow.
Borage is much loved by bees - they need all the help they can get so on behalf of the bees a big thank you for growing borage.

[SusieG]

Boris in July ........

[SusieG]

Cheops - re saving seed - do I just keep some of the flower heads and leave them to dry out to get seeds ........?

[cheops]

Yep, Susie, leave the flower heads as long as possible on the plant till you see the seeds are ready to fall. Sow your borage seeds next spring directly into your soil after the last frosts about a quarter of an inch deep. From your lovely photo I know you know to space your plants a foot apart if you intend to grow more than one plant. I'll be doing the same - when I choose a plant for my garden my foremost consideration is - the BEES. My young Labrador tends to snap at them but fortunately the bees are too quick.

[Alison]

Mine self seeds every year without any problems. I use the flowers in salads over the summer, very pretty.

[Chris11]

I grow it for the pollinators ~ it has masses of gorgeous small blue flowers and was laden with bees - and the young leaves can be eaten, a bit cucumber-like in flavour (so I have been told, not actually tried them myself.........)

Are you a Pimms girl, Susie?
Most people use mint or cucumber, but Borage is what is traditionally used.

I've got some seeds from the VSP, self saved by Jonny.D, thanks Jonny.

Hoping to grow it for the first time next year as part of my wildlife friendly gardening, to encourage and help the pollinators.

But if it does well, I might buy a bottle of Pimms for the Wimbledon season. I've already got the homegrown Strawberries well established

[SusieG]

I'll be doing the same - when I choose a plant for my garden my foremost consideration is - the BEES. My young Labrador tends to snap at them but fortunately the bees are too quick.

My lab (a mature (!?) 7 year old...) steers clear of the bees these days .......... thankfully. He is quite content to lie in the sun watching them busily buzzing from flower to flower, these days ......

I know Containergardener's lab is partial to the odd bee to chomp on...!

[SusieG]

Are you a Pimms girl, Susie?
Most people use mint or cucumber, but Borage is what is traditionally used.
Hoping to grow it for the first time next year as part of my wildlife friendly gardening, to encourage and help the pollinators.

But if it does well, I might buy a bottle of Pimms for the Wimbledon season. I've already got the homegrown Strawberries well established

I will definitely be growing it again next year ~ it took no looking after ~ apart from having to stake it up against the wind, as it grew so tall and wide...!

It's such a pretty looking plant ~ and I really must try some next summer in an icy cold glass of fruity Pimms.......

[roitelet]

Grow it once and you have got it for life!!!!!!!

[SusieG]

Grow it once and you have got it for life!!!!!!!

..............! Great ! ..........

[Linda32]

Hello,

I've found this with borage as well. It really does self seed in the oddest of places so it's clearly not fuzzy. I don't mind having lots of it though as it is very pretty.

[Chris11]

I'm hoping my Borage from last year has self-seeded.

Anyone know around what month the new plants will start appearing?
Haven't seen any yet, so not sure whether to start any this year from seeds, or just hope for plenty of self-seeded volunteers.