Borage

[Hester]

I wrote a blog about Borage recently as there seems to be a lot of interest in this herb-and rightly so. Here's a link https://ooooby.ning.com/profiles/blogs/borage-1

[Kathy Fathers]

Rather than trying to transplant small plants, find some flowering plants, and cut off the tops and just lie them in your garden.  They will grow - and can become almost a weed, even if a lovely one.

[Cassandra Lewis]

Hi there, my borage plant that was growing very well, got hidden by my overgrown coriander and swan plants, I have since cut back the coriander, and exposed the borage, but it doesn't look too good (looking a bit brown and dead unfortunately), does anyone know if it will come back - or will I have to obtain a new plant?
Thanks

[Vicki Hill]

If it doesn't recover I've got some seeds coming in the next couple of days so I could send you some if you need ... let me know.

[Mary Tipping]

Borage is a lovely plant! Years ago my brother used borage to alleviate his terrible back pain--he couldn't speak more highly of its benefits!

Mary
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[Hester]

It probably won't recover if it is mostly brown. If the stalk, the base of the leaves and the growing tip are still green it may still recover. Make sure the soil is moist if the plant is still alive.
If it flowered before it got smothered it may have self sown, so watch out for new. babies coming up
Borage can be a bit tricky to transplant . Smallish plants cope best and the less root disturbance the better.
But they need a bit of looking after before they are big enough to hold their own in a mixed patch.
Borage is easy to grow from seed tho' and once it flowers and self seeds you should have a supply of new plants forever .

[Vicki Hill]

I've just finished our new vege/herb/fruit gardens and long to have borage in there somewhere (I agree, I think it's a lovely plant and am also intrigued by it's reported anti-carcinogenic properties). I've been trying to grow borage from cuttings with no success yet, no doubt due to my limited experience with cuttings! Does anyone have any tips - or better still, anyone in the Manawatu that has a plant to spare?

[Yvonne Nikolaison]

Hester I wish I had found your borage blog before planting borage in the vegeatable garden, it wold have saved a problem. I did not know how big it grows and how much room it takes up lol. I have three borage plants about to flower and they are way too close to my beans, can I move them now or is it too late?

[Earl Mardle]

We have the same, borage coming up everywhere. Our approach is just to pull it out or cut it back as needed and if we don't need the space we let it grow for the bees and the compost contribution.

Its so prolific and hardy that it really doesn't matter if we haul some out to plant something we want. We figure that if we have to have weeds, herbs are the best kind.

[Silja Baer]

Hi Pat and Nate,

I still have a surplus of Borage, new seedlings are sprouting up more or less daily (blue variety). I also may have an adult plant white variety. You would be more than welcome to it. Cheers Silja PS: I live in Milfordbut work in Parnell should that help.

Nat & Pete said:

I loved your borage post and would love to start growing some. I have memories of picking and eating the blue flowers when I was small. What is the best way to get hold of some?

[Nat & Pete]

I loved your borage post and would love to start growing some. I have memories of picking and eating the blue flowers when I was small. What is the best way to get hold of some?