Borage in Zone 10A — Florida

Borage is a fantastic addition to any Florida garden. The edible blue flowers have a delicate cucumber flavor, brightening up salads and drinks. Plus, it attracts pollinators like crazy, boosting the yields of your other crops, especially those tomatoes and squash. It's satisfying to grow something so useful and beautiful in our subtropical climate.

Sure, Florida gardening comes with its challenges: humidity, nematodes, and the summer heat. But borage thrives during our cooler months, and with a little attention, you can enjoy it throughout much of our 355-day growing season. The key is timing your planting right.

You can transplant borage seedlings outdoors in late December through late January here in Florida. This gives them a head start before the weather really heats up. Be sure to harden off your seedlings for about a week before transplanting. Gradually expose them to outdoor conditions, increasing the time each day.

When you're ready to plant, space them 12-18 inches apart. Keep an eye on the weather forecast. A cold snap isn't common, but it can happen. Protect young transplants with row covers if temperatures dip unexpectedly.

Direct sowing is the way to go with borage, and it’s super easy in Florida! You can sow seeds directly into your garden from early January through late October. Borage is pretty adaptable, so you have a long window of opportunity.

Prepare your soil by loosening it and amending with compost. Borage isn't too picky, but good drainage is always a plus, especially with our sandy soil. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep and 12-18 inches apart. Keep the soil consistently moist until germination, which usually takes about a week. Be warned: borage self-seeds readily, so be prepared for volunteers!

Borage needs moderate watering to thrive in our Florida climate. While it's relatively easy-going, it's not drought-tolerant, and our intense summer heat can be tough on it. During the drier spring and fall months, aim for about 1 inch of water per week.

Stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time to water. During our wet summer months, you might not need to water at all, thanks to our frequent rainfall. However, keep an eye on your plants, especially if we're experiencing a dry spell.

Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal diseases in our humid environment. A layer of mulch around the base of the plant will help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

You can expect your first borage harvest about 55 days after sowing, so from early March through early January, depending on when you planted. The star-shaped blue flowers are ready to harvest when they are fully open. The young leaves are also edible and have a refreshing cucumber taste.

To harvest the flowers, simply snip them off with scissors or pinch them off with your fingers. For the leaves, harvest the younger ones for the best flavor. Regular harvesting encourages continued production, so don't be shy!

As late December approaches, and our first frost becomes a possibility, you can let your borage plants go to seed. This will ensure you have plenty of volunteers popping up next season.

Here are some common problems you might encounter with borage in Florida:

Self-Seeding Aggressively

• What it looks like: Borage seedlings popping up everywhere you don't want them.
• What causes it: Borage is a prolific self-seeder, especially happy in our long growing season.
• How to fix/prevent it: Deadhead flowers before they go to seed, or pull up unwanted seedlings as they appear. Consider growing it in containers to limit its spread.

Powdery Mildew

• What it looks like: White or grayish powdery coating on leaves and stems. Leaves may curl, yellow, and die.
• What causes it: Fungi thrive in warm days, cool nights, and moderate humidity, all of which we experience in Florida, especially during spring and fall.
• How to fix/prevent it: Improve air circulation by spacing plants adequately. Remove affected leaves promptly. Neem oil or potassium bicarbonate sprays can help. A milk spray (1 part milk to 9 parts water) can also be effective.

Can Become Leggy

• What it looks like: Tall, spindly plants with few leaves, especially lower down.
• What causes it: Insufficient sunlight or overcrowding.
• How to fix/prevent it: Ensure borage receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Thin out plants to provide adequate spacing. Prune back leggy stems to encourage bushier growth.

Florida Specific Challenges: Our hot, humid summers can stress borage, making it more susceptible to fungal diseases. Consistent monitoring and good air circulation are key to keeping your plants healthy. Also, be mindful of nematodes in your soil; while borage isn't a primary target, keeping your soil healthy with organic matter will help mitigate their impact.

Borage is a great companion plant for many vegetables in your Florida garden. It attracts pollinators to help your tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers produce more fruit. It's also said to deter tomato hornworms, a common pest here. Strawberries also benefit from borage, as it can help deter certain pests.

I wouldn't avoid planting anything specific near borage. Just keep in mind its tendency to self-seed, so don't plant it too close to anything delicate that might get crowded out.