Borage seeds?

Where can I find Borage seeds? I'd love to plant some in my herb box...

Thanks,
Rhonda

I've found some locally, even in box stores, and some on-line. Remember, when borage likes where it's at, it can get VERY large and sprawling - mine got to almost 3' tall this year and were about 2-2.5' wide. They got so tall they finally fell over and were hanging over the side of the boxes into the walkway. If they had stayed upright, they would have been at least 4' tall. So beware of borage in boxes - at least size-wise.

I found the ones I purchased at local box store. I have some (a few) left if you are interested.

chocolatepop wrote:I found the ones I purchased at local box store. I have some (a few) left if you are interested.

Pm'ing you ...

Rhonda

...and thanks for the info, Odd Duck...I may have to rethink putting them in my boxes and find a more suitable place instead.


Rhonda

Hm.... mine didn't get ANYWHERE near that big...maybe 14"-16" at most. They were transplants, though.

Thanks for the info! I'll put some in the landscaping now.

I put mine in a small box next to my tomato plants. Box as in no bottom. Put marigolds in there as well. Really a neat plant. I will always have it as a companion plant from now on for many reasons.

You can always add more competition to it to try and keep it smaller if that is an issue. Where I am the size is fine. Mine didn't last the whole summer but it reseeded itself and little ones came up before the end of the season.

That's some weird looking plant! We had several last year which did indeed fall over. We let them go to seed I think. I'll try to save seed if the plants return.

At johnnyseeds.com under the herb section.

My TIP .
Put your borrage to one side away from your main walkways and bed areas.. Honey bees just love it and when the nectar is flowing will fly kamakazi style in straight lines form the nest/hive to the plants like machine gun bullets & usually unintentionally sting you if you get in they way .

If you cut the plant down , the stump produces another almost nectar like substance which the bees will also greedily feast upon for three or more days till it is exhausted.

Remember borage is edible too. What a nice addition to any garden. As I am still afraid (but getting better) of stinging insects I do my gardening in the early morning before they get up. ;-)

shannon1 wrote:Remember borage is edible too. What a nice addition to any garden. As I am still afraid (but getting better) of stinging insects I do my gardening in the early morning before they get up. ;-)

Our honey bees flew and worked at 50 oF , wasps & other nectar drinkers seemed to fly at 42 oF and above .

The borage flower is a rather delicate dressing to float on the top of a Pimms or a few put in a Martini based bowl of punch. They also take a sugar glaze & sugar frosting quite well

I've heard tell some freeze them in ice cubes, never tried it but sounds nice

shannon1 wrote:
The borage flower is a rather delicate dressing to float on the top of a Pimms or a few put in a Martini based bowl of punch. They also take a sugar glaze & sugar frosting quite well

Shannon, what's a Pimms?

AvaDGardner wrote:

shannon1 wrote:
The borage flower is a rather delicate dressing to float on the top of a Pimms or a few put in a Martini based bowl of punch. They also take a sugar glaze & sugar frosting quite well

Shannon, what's a Pimms?

It is a british cocktail

made with Pimms Cup Gin

Windsor.Parker wrote:That's some weird looking plant! We had several last year which did indeed fall over. We let them go to seed I think. I'll try to save seed if the plants return.

If conditions were right, there's no "if" about it! This is a vey prolific plant. I purchased a borage plant at a nursery a few years ago; now I have to pull out many seedlings each year and still get 2-3 healthy plants, which then re-seed, etc., ad infinitum.

Spacing for Borage? This is my first time with Borage. I have about a dozen Borage seedlings and would like to plant them even though other seedlings for the same boxes are not ready for the ground. One or two per square or pot? Can I just sneak a couple in a box like marigolds without worrying about spacing?

I plan to plant just three seeds, and soon! If one survives, everything should be fine.

Please remember, this herb is quite prolific and will re-seed itself. You probably have need for more than two or three plants, if that.

Sounds like I had better put them in pots.

we love Borage   

it loves really rich compost to grow in.  We found this out last year when we planted it in a new heavy compost bed and it grew taller than 5ft and bushed larger then trying to wrap my arms around it....that's the only way I can describe it.....it was HUGE and only 1 plant....we had no idea it could get that big!

other areas in the garden it only grew to about 1 foot or so and only had a couple of limbs on it...that's how we figured out its love of compost.....

so.....depending of the fertility of your soil is how I would plant it......you can also trim it back if it gets out of hand and it doesn't mind getting trimmed   

for us its a must in the garden as it attacks soooo many bees, they just cant get enough of it!  It will self sow ...I find that a benefit and leave in the ones I want and pull the others....so far it hasn't become a problem for us....its a welcome self sower in our gardens   

happy planting
rose

sanderson wrote:Spacing for Borage?  This is my first time with Borage. I have about a dozen Borage seedlings and would like to plant them even though other seedlings for the same boxes are not ready for the ground.  One or two per square or pot?  Can I just sneak a couple in a box like marigolds without worrying about spacing?  

I would give them pots of their own. +1 what Donna said. They self sow and soon you will have babies everywhere. Which is awesome.  

Thank you.  Pot it is.

I understand everything on the plant is edible, but I always see people talking about borage attracting bees, not being delicious. Does anyone eat it -- and like it?

I read on google that it's part of a German dish that's especially popular around Frankfurt. But it seems a self-seeding, prolific, summer-hardy plant with edible leaves and pretty edible flowers would be a bigger culinary favorite ... unless it's kind of unpleasant fare ...