Borage in Zone 6A — Great Plains

Borage is an excellent addition to any Great Plains garden. Its edible cucumber-flavored leaves and beautiful star-shaped blue flowers add a unique touch to salads and drinks. Plus, it's incredibly satisfying to grow a plant that attracts pollinators and thrives in our intense sunshine.

While we face challenges like extreme temperature swings and variable rainfall here, borage is adaptable. With a growing season around 188 days, you have plenty of time to enjoy this herb if you time your planting right.

You can transplant borage outdoors in early to late April. Before moving your seedlings to the garden, harden them off. Give them about a week of gradually increasing outdoor exposure, protecting them from wind and direct sun at first.

Space your borage plants 12-18 inches apart. Keep an eye on the weather, especially for late frosts or unexpected cold snaps, which are always a concern in the Plains during this time. Use row covers or blankets to protect young transplants if needed.

Direct sowing is the preferred method for borage, and it's easy to do. Sow seeds mid-April through mid-August. Borage germinates best when soil temperatures are consistently above 60°F, so wait until the soil has warmed up.

Prepare your soil by loosening it and adding compost. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep and 12-18 inches apart. Water gently but thoroughly after planting. Borage self-seeds readily, so be prepared for volunteers in subsequent years!

Borage needs moderate watering, especially in our Great Plains climate. While it's not drought-tolerant, it's also not fussy about getting too much water as long as the soil drains adequately. Getting the watering right is key, especially with our variable rainfall.

During the hotter summer months, check the soil moisture regularly. Stick your finger about 2 inches deep into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time to water. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal diseases in our sometimes humid conditions.

Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and slow growth. Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot. Adding a layer of mulch, like straw or wood chips, around your borage plants helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, which is especially important during our extreme temperature swings.

You can expect your first borage harvest in early June if you sow in spring. Borage flowers are ready to harvest when they are fully open and a vibrant blue. The young leaves are also edible and have the best cucumber flavor when they are young and tender.

To harvest, simply snip off the flowers or leaves with scissors or your fingers. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production throughout the growing season. As the first frost approaches in mid- October, harvest any remaining flowers and leaves. You can dry the flowers for later use or compost the plant.

Here are some common problems you might encounter growing borage in the Great Plains:

Self-seeding aggressively

• What it looks like: Borage seedlings pop up everywhere in your garden the following year, even in places you didn't plant them.
• What causes it: Borage readily self-seeds, especially if you allow the flowers to mature and drop their seeds. Our variable rainfall can also contribute to seed dispersal.
• How to fix/prevent it: Deadhead spent flowers before they go to seed. Remove unwanted seedlings promptly. 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 flowers. Leaves may 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.
• How to fix/prevent it: Improve air circulation by spacing plants adequately and pruning if needed. Remove affected leaves promptly. Neem oil or potassium bicarbonate sprays can help. A milk spray (1 part milk to 9 parts water) is surprisingly effective.

Can become leggy

• What it looks like: The plant becomes tall and spindly with fewer leaves, often flopping over.
• What causes it: Insufficient sunlight or overly rich soil. Borage prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade.
• How to fix/prevent it: Ensure your borage plants receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Avoid over-fertilizing. Prune back leggy growth to encourage bushier growth.

Great Plains Specific Challenges: Our hot summers and variable rainfall can stress borage plants, making them more susceptible to powdery mildew. Wind protection is essential to prevent leggy growth and keep the plants from toppling over. Providing consistent moisture and adequate sunlight will help your borage thrive despite these challenges.

Borage is a great companion plant for several vegetables in the Great Plains. It attracts beneficial insects like bees and hoverflies, which pollinate tomatoes, squash, strawberries, and cucumbers, leading to increased yields. Borage is said to deter tomato hornworms, making it a welcome addition to your tomato patch. The large leaves can also provide some ground cover, suppressing weeds around squash and cucumber plants. Avoid planting borage near fennel, as it can inhibit fennel's growth.