Borage in Zone 6A — Mid-Atlantic

Borage is a fantastic addition to any Mid-Atlantic garden. The star-shaped blue flowers are not only beautiful but also attract pollinators to your vegetable patch, boosting yields for your tomatoes and squash. Plus, the young leaves have a refreshing cucumber-like flavor, perfect for summer salads when the humidity is high.

Our four seasons present some challenges, with variable spring weather and humid summers that can encourage disease. But with a 188-day growing season and proper timing, you can easily grow borage and enjoy its benefits from early summer through fall.

You can transplant borage seedlings outdoors in early to late April. Before planting, be sure to harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This helps them adjust to the fluctuating temperatures and sunlight we often see in the Mid-Atlantic during that time.

Space your borage plants 12-18 inches apart to give them room to grow into their bushy form. Keep an eye on the forecast for any late frost warnings and be prepared to cover your seedlings if necessary.

Direct sowing is the easiest and most common way to grow borage, and it works well in our Mid-Atlantic climate. Sow seeds mid April through mid August for a continuous supply of leaves and flowers. Borage is easy to direct sow and self-seeds readily.

Prepare your soil by loosening it and removing any weeds. Borage isn't too picky, but well-draining soil is always best, especially with our even rainfall. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep and 12-18 inches apart. Keep the soil consistently moist until germination, which usually takes about a week.

Borage needs moderate watering, which is especially important to keep in mind during our humid summers. Aim to water deeply once or twice a week, providing about 1 inch of water each time, depending on rainfall. Use the finger test: stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil; if it feels dry, it's time to water.

Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal diseases like powdery mildew in our humid conditions. Mulching around the base of the plant with straw or shredded leaves helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.

During dry spells, keep a close eye on your borage. If the leaves start to droop or wilt, that's a sign it needs more water. Overwatering, on the other hand, can lead to root rot, so make sure your soil drains well. Yellowing leaves can also indicate overwatering.

You can expect your first borage harvest in early June if you sow in April, and continue harvesting all the way through late October. The star-shaped blue flowers are ready to harvest when they are fully open. The young leaves are also edible and have a mild cucumber flavor.

To harvest, simply snip off the flowers or leaves with scissors or your fingers. Be careful not to damage the main stem, and the plant will continue to produce more. Regular harvesting encourages continued production.

As our first frost approaches in mid- October, you can harvest any remaining flowers and leaves to dry or use fresh. Borage is an annual, so it won't survive the winter, but it will likely self-seed, giving you a head start next spring.

Here are the top three problems you might encounter with borage in the Mid-Atlantic:

Self-seeding aggressively

• What it looks like: Borage seedlings popping up everywhere in your garden, even where you didn't plant them.
• What causes it: Borage readily self-seeds, and the seeds can remain viable in the soil for several years. Our even rainfall helps them germinate easily.
• How to fix/prevent it: Deadhead the flowers before they go to seed to prevent unwanted seedlings. You can also pull out any unwanted seedlings as they appear. Consider growing borage in containers to limit its spread.

Powdery mildew

• What it looks like: White or grayish powdery coating on leaves, stems, and sometimes fruit. Leaves curl, yellow, and die.
• What causes it: Various fungi that thrive in warm days, cool nights, and moderate humidity. Dry leaf surfaces actually favor it, which can still occur even in our humid climate.
• How to fix/prevent it: Improve air circulation through spacing and pruning. Remove affected leaves. Neem oil or potassium bicarbonate sprays help. Milk spray (1 part milk to 9 parts water) is surprisingly effective.

Can become leggy

• What it looks like: Long, spindly stems with few leaves, especially in shaded areas.
• What causes it: Insufficient sunlight.
• How to fix/prevent it: Plant borage in a location that receives full sun to part shade. If your plants become leggy, you can prune them back to encourage bushier growth.

Mid-Atlantic Specific Challenges: The combination of moderate-to-hot heat, humid humidity, and even rainfall in the Mid-Atlantic can create ideal conditions for powdery mildew and encourage aggressive self-seeding. Be sure to provide good air circulation and monitor your plants regularly for any signs of disease.

Borage is a great companion plant for several vegetables in the Mid-Atlantic garden. It attracts pollinators, which can improve yields for tomatoes, squash, strawberries, and cucumbers. It is said to deter tomato hornworms.

There are no known bad companions for borage, so feel free to plant it near other vegetables and herbs. Its benefits outweigh any potential drawbacks.