Re: Borage

**sanderson** 6/23/2018, 4:03 am

No Such Reality posted this under the Borage topic but I thought is was a good write-up on Borage fertility. Very Happy

[No_Such_Reality June 22, 2018 at 17:21

I'm intrigued to try comfry but a bit cautious given my recent experience with borage. I wanted borage. Tried to grow borage. I failed. Then... Borage grew. I let it grow. Into a big bold plant four feet high and six feet in diameter.

I took seeds and transplanted where I wanted them, they're growing. I've also been pulling borage out of my SFG every week. And pulling from by the compost. And pulling it from the lawn. And pulling it every where I walked when carrying the cuttings to the compost or going to make the cuts.[/quote]

**donnainzone5** 6/23/2018, 12:03 pm

I wouldn't trust trying to compost borage. Anything that survives will sprout! And sprout, and sprout!

I figure one or two plants are sufficient, so I pull and drop the babies before they can reproduce.

**trolleydriver** 6/23/2018, 3:20 pm

donnainzone5 wrote:I wouldn't trust trying to compost borage. Anything that survives will sprout! And sprout, and sprout!

I figure one or two plants are sufficient, so I pull and drop the babies before they can reproduce.

I am growing borage this year for the first time. Decided to grow to attract pollinators and to add to the compost bin. Are you saying I should not put borage leaves in the compost?

**sanderson** 6/23/2018, 3:55 pm

Hot composting at 160*f should kill the seeds.

**trolleydriver** 6/23/2018, 3:57 pm

sanderson wrote:Hot composting at 160*f should kill the seeds.

Doubtful I'll achieve that temperature for any length of time if ever. I was thinking of just picking off leaves to put into the compost.

**sanderson** 6/23/2018, 3:58 pm

Oh, leaves should be fine.

**trolleydriver** 6/23/2018, 4:00 pm

sanderson wrote:Oh, leaves should be fine.

I'll aim to do that.

**jimmy cee** 6/23/2018, 10:47 pm

sanderson wrote:Hot composting at 160*f should kill the seeds.

Lower temperatures will kill off seeds, however those temps must be maintained for a couple of days.
160 Deg, according to Teaming with microbes should be the maximum temperature in a compost pile. Anything higher will destroy the carbon.

**sanderson** 6/24/2018, 2:02 am

Agree. Max 160*F. The old cage would get up to 170*F and I would be out there tearing it apart, trying to cool it down.

**trolleydriver** 6/24/2018, 2:58 pm

My SoilSaver bin got up to 155 a few days ago.

Roseinarosecity 6/24/2018, 8:37 pm

I finally got around to reading the entire Borage post. I had a Borage plant in a pot for about two years and it never sent any volunteers. It died, probably from lack of water. I missed the flowers and bees so I bought another plant this year but I put it in the ground this year. It was a small plant that transferred well.
Borage - Page 2 Borage10

The Borage is between the volunteer mini-pumpkin and in front of my Oaxacan corn in a non-SFG bed. It's happy and I'm happy and hoping it sends some volunteers.

**sanderson** 6/25/2018, 3:02 am

I have found that it really helps to water plants in the summer. only I can kill 2 lavender by forgetting to water. Shocked

**Scorpio Rising** 7/4/2018, 10:22 am

I am intrigued by this plant! The flowers are that gorgeous blue. I have a perennial bed out front with terrible clay soil. It gets overtaken by weeds if I don’t tend it well (which I am not the greatest at, due to the huge poison ivy crop!). Maybe I can clear a spot for this workhorse? Not picky on soil?

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