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Borage — Herbs | DarkGrow Seed Bank

Name: Borage
Brand: DarkGrow Seed Bank

50-60days to harvest

7-14 daysdays to germinate

Z2–11USDA zones

Easydifficulty

Heirloom

Sowing

Direct sow after last frost, or start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost

Cultivation

Sun: Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
Water: Moderate, drought tolerant once established
Soil: Well-drained loam, tolerates poor soil
Spacing: 12-18 inches
Height: 1-3 feet
Season: Warm season annual

Appearance & flavour

Colour: Blue and pink
Shape: Small star-shaped flowers
Flavour: Mild, refreshing cucumber flavor with delicate taste.

In the kitchen

Garnish for salads, cold drinks, desserts, frozen in ice cubes

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests: Aphids, spider mites, sawfly larvae
Diseases: Downy mildew, root rot in poorly drained soil

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Zone	Start indoors	Transplant	Direct sow	Harvest
2	April – May	June – August	—	August – September
3	April – May	June – July	—	July – October
4	March – April	June – July	—	July – October
5	March – April	May – June	—	June – October
6	March – April	May – June	—	June – November
7	February – March	April – June	—	June – November
8	February – March	April – May	—	May – December
9	January – February	March – April	—	April – December
10	January	February – April	—	April – December
11	January	January – March	—	March – December

Companion planting

8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.

TomatoesBorage repels tomato hornworms and may improve tomato flavor and growth

StrawberriesBorage attracts beneficial insects and may enhance strawberry flavor and yield

SquashBorage attracts pollinators essential for squash fruit production and deters squash bugs

CucumberBorage repels cucumber beetles and attracts pollinators for better fruit set

CabbageBorage deters cabbage worms and other brassica pests while attracting beneficial predatory insects

BeansBorage attracts pollinators and beneficial insects that help control bean pests

PeppersBorage may repel aphids and other soft-bodied insects that attack pepper plants

MarigoldsBoth attract beneficial insects and create a diverse ecosystem that supports garden health

Avoid

Black WalnutJuglone produced by black walnut trees is toxic to borage and inhibits its growth

RueRue can inhibit the growth of borage and other herbs through allelopathic compounds

FennelFennel inhibits growth of most garden plants including borage through allelopathy

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories (per 100 g): 23
Protein (g): 3.15
Fat (g): 0.64
Carbohydrate (g): 2.65
Fibre (g): 1.6
Sugars (g): 0.3
Vitamin A (µg): 264
Vitamin C (mg): 18
Vitamin E (mg): 0.8
Vitamin K (µg): 415
Vitamin B6 (mg): 0.155
Folate (µg): 68
Calcium (mg): 177
Iron (mg): 3.17
Magnesium (mg): 64
Phosphorus (mg): 56
Potassium (mg): 295
Zinc (mg): 0.81
Selenium (µg): 0.3

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Where to buy seed and equipment

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Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the herbs growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

Borage

Sowing

Cultivation

Appearance & flavour

In the kitchen

Pests, disease & resistance

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Companion planting

Avoid

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Where to buy seed and equipment

Grown Borage?

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