When to plant borage
Plant borage from the last spring frost to 2 weeks after it. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F. That works out to zone 5b (early May to mid May), zone 7a (mid April to late April) and zone 9a (early March to mid March).
Borage planting dates by zone
| Zone | Plant outdoors | borage ready from |
|---|---|---|
| 4a | May 15 – May 29 | Jul 11 |
| 4b | May 13 – May 27 | Jul 9 |
| 5a | May 11 – May 25 | Jul 7 |
| 5b | May 5 – May 19 | Jul 1 |
| 6a | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jun 26 |
| 6b | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jun 20 |
| 7a | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 11 |
| 7b | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Jun 2 |
| 8a | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 23 |
| 8b | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | May 12 |
| 9a | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Apr 28 |
| 9b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 2 |
How to plant borage
| Plant as | seeds outdoors |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 60°F or warmer |
| Depth | 1/2 in |
| Spacing | 12–18 in |
| Light | Full sun |
| Time to harvest | 50–60 days |
Borage is an annual that reseeds itself readily.
Bees love it, which helps nearby crops set fruit.
Like dill, it resents transplanting.
Borage leaves and the star-shaped blue flowers taste mildly of cucumber; float the flowers in drinks or freeze them in ice cubes.
Plants grow 2–3 feet tall and sprawl, so give them room at the back of a vegetable bed.
Borage is a traditional companion for strawberries, tomatoes and squash because it draws pollinators.
When to harvest borage
Pick young leaves and the blue flowers as they open.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.