Borage in Zone 8A — Texas

Borage is a fantastic addition to any Texas garden. Its vibrant blue, star-shaped flowers are not only beautiful, but also attract pollinators to your tomatoes and squash. Plus, the young leaves have a refreshing cucumber-like taste, perfect for salads during our long growing season.

While our Texas weather can be unpredictable, Borage is fairly adaptable. Our long 260-day growing season gives you plenty of opportunity to enjoy this plant. With a little planning, you can easily manage the Texas heat and get a great harvest.

If you choose to transplant Borage, aim for mid February through mid March. Harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week before planting. This helps them adjust to the Texas sun and wind.

When transplanting, space your Borage plants 12-18 inches apart to allow for good air circulation. Keep an eye on the weather forecast. A late freeze is always possible, so be prepared to cover your young plants if temperatures dip unexpectedly.

Direct sowing Borage is the easiest and most common method. You can sow seeds directly into the garden from early March through mid September, giving you a long window to get started. Borage thrives in soil temperatures between 60-70°F, so wait until the soil has warmed up a bit in the spring.

Prepare your garden bed by loosening the soil and removing any rocks or debris. Sow seeds about 1/2 inch deep and 12-18 inches apart. Keep the soil consistently moist until the seedlings emerge. Borage is known for self-seeding, so be prepared to have volunteers popping up in your garden!

Borage needs moderate watering to thrive in the Texas climate. While it's relatively easy-going, consistent moisture is key, especially during our hot summers.

During the spring and fall, when temperatures are milder, water deeply about once a week, providing around 1 inch of water. Use the "finger test" – if the top 2 inches of soil feel dry, it's time to water. In the heat of summer, you may need to water every other day, or even daily during periods of extreme heat and drought.

Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, especially with our variable humidity. Overhead watering can increase the risk of fungal diseases. Look for signs of underwatering, such as wilting leaves, or overwatering, such as yellowing leaves. A layer of mulch around your Borage plants will help retain moisture and suppress weeds, which is particularly helpful during the Texas heat.

You can expect your first Borage harvest around late April through late November, about 55 days after sowing. The best indicator for harvest is the star-shaped blue flowers. Harvest them when they are fully open.

To harvest, simply snip off the flowers or leaves with scissors or pruning shears. Be gentle to avoid damaging the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued production.

As the first frost approaches in mid- November, you can harvest any remaining flowers and leaves. Don't worry if the plant dies back; it will likely self-seed, giving you a head start for next year's garden.

Here are a few common problems you might encounter growing Borage in Texas:

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 is a prolific self-seeder, especially in our long growing season.
• How to fix/prevent it: Deadhead flowers before they go to seed. Remove 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. Leaves curl, yellow, and die.
• What causes it: Various fungi thrive in warm days, cool nights, and moderate humidity. Dry leaf surfaces favor it.
• 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 effective.

Can become leggy

• What it looks like: Long, weak stems with sparse foliage and flowers.
• What causes it: Insufficient sunlight or overly rich soil.
• How to fix/prevent it: Ensure your Borage plants receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Avoid over-fertilizing. Prune back leggy stems to encourage bushier growth.

Texas Specific Challenges: Our hot-to-extreme heat, variable humidity, and unpredictable rainfall can exacerbate these problems. Provide consistent moisture, good air circulation, and monitor your plants regularly to catch issues early. Fire ants can also be a nuisance, so keep an eye out for their mounds and take appropriate control measures.

Borage makes a great companion plant for several vegetables and herbs in the Texas garden. Plant it near tomatoes, squash, strawberries, and cucumbers. It attracts pollinators, which boosts fruit production. It is also thought to deter tomato hornworms.

Avoid planting Borage near fennel, as they can inhibit each other's growth. There aren't any other widely known bad companions, so focus on incorporating Borage near the plants that benefit most from its presence.