Last updated on September 26th, 2022 at 11:47 am
Planting is a universal activity that a lot of people engage in. It is done irrespective of status or field and can be for different reasons. Either for aesthetic values or medicine, employment, and most especially for food.
Some plants such as potatoes, radishes, marigold, snap peas are easy to grow and cultivate. Others aren’t so easy to grow and cultivate, such as onions, wasabi, melon, celery, etc., and farmers mostly do them.
Borage, however, can be grown by individuals in gardens.
So, is Borage hard or easy to grow? Borage is very easy to grow and is a hardy annual flowering herb. The plant remains in the garden from year to year by self-seeding. The leaves are edible, and the plant is grown in gardens for both aesthetic and nutritional value. It thrives in gardens in most of Europe, such as Denmark, Germany, and even France.
Is Borage Hard to Grow from Seeds?
Borage is characterized by brilliant blue flowers and the aroma and scent of cucumbers. It’s sometimes deemed a herb. And yes, it can be easily propagated through seeds.
As a hardy annual plant, Borage will die in frost and cold weather conditions. However, the seeds can survive in the frozen ground, being preserved till the winter is over. It is an advantage for Borage, as it produces a large amount of seed in the fall.
The seed falls to the ground as the plant withers and dies from the cold. But in the spring, new borage plants appear to take their place.
Planting Borage in gardens is done chiefly through seed propagation as it proves to be relatively easy. It is simplest to plant borage seeds directly into the garden, especially under full sunlight or in a shady location.
But you can plant them indoors in containers or pots if you wish to. Borage self-pollinates too and tends to attract bees and other pollinators to the garden.
One may choose to gather seeds to give away or plant elsewhere in the garden. To do this, pluck them off the plant when the flowers begin to wither and brown. You can then preserve the seeds for a minimum of three years.
What Conditions does Borage like?
As we have earlier seen, Borage can be quickly grown; however, the right conditions must be met. These conditions are to ensure proper growth and development of the plant as well as an increased yield.
Borage thrives best under direct sunlight, so it is mainly sown in the summer. Plant the borage seeds directly where the plant is expected to bloom and mature.
This recommendation is because of Borage’s ability to form deep roots and decline whenever it is transplanted. A good draining soil and a location that gets sunlight for most of the day is ideal.
However, If the ground is heavy and drains slowly, add fine gravel and mound up the soil to help. Borage does best in soil with little fertility, so there’s no need to add fertilizer or organic matter.
To grow Borage in a container, choose a large pot (at least 25 cm deep and 30 cm wide). It would help if you filled it two-thirds with peat-free, general-purpose potting compost and one-third coarse grit.
You can also use a container that’s at least 12 inches deep with suitable drainage holes. An unglazed clay container is ideal because it will allow excess soil moisture to break out through its walls.
Note that plants are grown in containers typically need more frequent watering than those grown in the ground. However, it would be best if you didn’t allow the soil to become soggy.
The seeds should be planted from mid-spring, after the last frosts, and in late spring for second sowing. Just shake the seeds from the flowers as the blooms deteriorate and reserve them in an airtight container.
Then plant when the time is due. Also, slightly acidic soil, around a pH of 6.6, is suitable for your borage plants. Finally, sow them in thick clumps to give mechanical aid to the fragile stems, which are easily destroyed by wind or other disruptions.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Borage?
The greatest reward for planting is harvesting since that’s the primary reason for growing most plants in the first place.
A lot of plants, however, take a period to fully mature and be ready for harvest. Some of these plants are annual, perennial, or biannual, depending on the species.
Borage is no exception to this rule. It buds from seeds in 5 to 15 days and enters adulthood in about the eighth week. The plant is able to grow to about 36 inches in length and up to 20 inches in width. At this point, collecting the leaves and flowers is due.
The plants will start to deteriorate if they are not deadheaded and are left to go to seed. Flickering your planting times will give you a more extended bloom period, along with a longer harvest time.
Pick off the leaves and flowers you need by hand, or use garden scissors. They are best eaten fresh after harvesting, though you can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days.
Conclusion
Borage is an easy and fast-growing annual herb with striking blue flowers and the flavor and scent of cucumbers. It’s sometimes seen as a herb, but it is usually cultivated as a flower in gardens.
The reason is that it is seen as a good helper for other garden plants like tomatoes. It’s even rumored to prevent tomato hornworm attacks and enhance the flavor of tomatoes growing around it.
Not to mention its ability to add flavor to honey from a honeybee colony living close by. Borage has the capacity to grow up to 2 feet tall or more. Growing Borage provides the gardener with really nice flavors for tea and other beverages
You can use its brilliant blue flowers for garnishing salads. Most aspects of the plant, are delectable and have both culinary and remedial uses. Although today, commercial cultivation of Borage is growing and is mainly as an oilseed.
Borage is a plant that demands little stress to cultivate and also proves to be a valuable asset. Either as a garden flower or as an herb, this plant is one very conveniently grown plant with numerous benefits.
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