Borage (Borago officinalis) has always been considered a gardener’s secret. It is worth cultivating this low- maintenance plant in the garden. There is no comparison to their fresh, cucumbery-scented leaves in the grocery store,. The pretty flowers with their sweet nectar not only attract bees, but you can also decorate great food and drinks with them!
Borage Varieties
Borage originates from the Mediterranean region. However, in this country, it copes so well with the local climate that it can also be found growing wild outside the garden fence in some places. In its comfort zone, it can grow up to 90 centimetres high and regerminate itself quickly. However, it is not frost hardy.
Borage is characterized by its bristly, hairy stems and leaves. Like comfrey and forget-me-nots, it belongs to the family of predatory-leaf plants. The aroma of its leaves is reminiscent of cucumbers. It is therefore also known in many places as cucumber herb. A rarer name for borage is the heavenly star. This moniker alludes to its pretty star-shaped flowers, which bloom blue, pink, or sometimes even white.
Sowing Borage
Borage is best sown outdoors. It forms long roots, so the plants will quickly become weak if you move them. You can plant the seeds from April to the end of July. The distance between the plants and the rows should be about 30 centimetres. Place the seeds about two centimetres deep in the soil. Borage needs shade to germinate. The germination period can be up to 14 days. Pro tip: you don’t have to buy the seeds fresh every year. It can germinate on its own for several years.
Location and Maintenance
Borage thrives best in a sunny to partially shady place. The location should also be airy to avoid mildew and pests. Make sure, however, that the plants are sheltered from the wind, as it easily can be bent and damaged by it..
The soil should be nutrient-rich, permeable, and, above all, moist. A calcareous, loamy soil is considered ideal. In addition, the cucumber herb is very easy to care for and – in the right soil – only rarely needs to be fertilised.
Depending on when you sow the seeds, borage flowers from June to frost. The nectar-rich, sweet-tasting flowers are a great haven for bees. If you want to prevent the plant from spreading too much in the garden – and it does so quickly thanks to diligent ants – you should cut off the seeds after flowering.
Harvesting and Use
Borage leaves can be harvested from May onwards. To do this, carefully cut them off with your fingernail or with a sharp kitchen knife. Harvest only tender, young greens. The older leaves are big, but taste rough and hard. With its characteristic aroma, you can use it as a substitute for cucumber. It tastes fresh chopped in salads, herb butter, and quark. You can also prepare it as a soup or as a side dish, like spinach. Borage is a component of Frankfurt Green Sauce, a dip made from seven spring herbs. The sweet, star-shaped flowers are also edible and are a beautiful decoration for salads, desserts, cakes, or even in decorative ice cubes in summery drinks and fruit bowls.
Always harvest borage fresh and use it promptly, as it withers quickly. Apart from the fact that the herb is very tasty, it is also said to have a health-promoting effect due to its healthy ingredients.
Important: Some ingredients of borage are considered toxic for the liver. Therefore, according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, regular consumption of borage is not recommended. An occasional consumption is considered harmless, as is the consumption of flowers and seeds as well as borage oil pressed from the seeds, as these do not contain the alkaloids or only traces of them. (Source Wikipedia)
