Senga's Blog
Eco-chic Outdoor Living & Exterior Design
April 26/10 A Year in Sustainable Garden: The Planning Stage - Borage
A Herb For My Bees
Bees absolutely love to forage on this herb. When we were in New Zealand last December we brought back Borage Honey and it makes the honey taste even sweeter and full bodied.
A Herb for Humans
Cellulite Reduction * Colds * Eczema * Gout * Lupus * Natural Skin Care-Oils & Herbs * Psoriasis * Rheumatoid Arthritis *
Borage leaves were taken historically to comfort the heart and give courage. It was said to have the ability to make mean and women merry. For courage, flowers were floated in the stirrup-cups given to Crusaders and Knights Templar upon their departure to foreign lands.
Information about Borage You Need to Know
Botanical name: Borago officinalis
Common Name: Starflower
Country of Origin: Syria but now naturalized throughout the Mediterranean region, as well as Asia Minor, Europe, North Africa, and South America
Description: Grows to a height of 60–100 cm (2.0–3.3 ft), and is bristly or hairy all over the stems and leaves; the leaves are alternate, simple, and 5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) long. The flowers are complete, perfect with five narrow, triangular-pointed petals. Flowers are most often blue in color, although pink flowers are sometime observed.
Best harvested: Anytime for flowers or leaves as needed
Time to Plant: April 15 indoors to get a jump on the season.
Where to Sow and Grow: Transplant to prepared bed or pot in full sun (can also tolerate a little shade). Space 20 cm (8”) apart.
Maturity: 80 Days
Tip: Keep well watered to keep plants vigorous, but use light soil to avoid water logging plants
Taste: Leaves taste like cucumber and flowers have a sweet honey-like taste.
Uses: Soups, traditional filling in pasta like ravioli. Leaves once were used like mint leaves. Also used as a flavouring for pickles. Flowers used for garnishes as desserts. Young leaves can be cooked like spinach or used in salads. Dried borage leaf can be ground and used on food in place of salt.
Place in Garden: On the ground throughout my perennial borders in front and back yards. On the edible green roof – in pots on top of our bee hives as wells thought our raised garden beds – squeezing between vegetables such as our tomatoes as well as strawberries and peas.
Companion Planting: Near tomato and strawberry plants improving their growth and making them taste better. It also protects or nurses legumes, spinach and brassicas. They also ward off aphids, other sucking insects and repel tomato hornworms.
