Your comments and tips

29 Nov 17, JB (Australia - temperate climate)

I would be careful when planting it as a companion in among other plants because it grows very large and spreads everywhere and can actually end up shading other plants and taking up a lot of room. It's a great way to attract bees though so I would recommend setting an area where there is space for it to grow aside and planting it there. It flowers pretty much all year round and pops up absolutely everywhere once it gets going which is good because you can cut it back or pull it out when it's in the way and you know it will appear again later somewhere in the garden.

Reply or Post a new comment

21 Apr 16, Raewyn McConnell (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Our Borrage plants, in a bed of light, well drained but nourishing soil, have grown wonderfully and are now in full flower (22.4.2016) They are large, but are showing signs of what appears to be collar rot. Could this be because they were mulched and it is an unseasonally damp summer, or because they have grown larger than usual and become too close together; shutting out sun to the roots? Need to know for the safety of future crops.

Reply or Post a new comment

16 Apr 16, Purnima Sen (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)

Can I grow this plant in a pot in balcony.?I live in a condo unit.

Reply or Post a new comment

12 May 21, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 7a Mild Temperate climate)

I grow borage - since the bees love it. I have grown it in containers, no problem - it seems to grow everywhere. I have also noticed they tend to like potassium, moisture and rich soil. I have also grown them in various locations in my garden; they grow everywhere but I do notice a difference in size based on soil quality, light and moisture -- but again, they do grow just about everywhere..... I've yet to plant in a spot where it did not grow. This is a great plant for bees and the humming birds love it. When I lived in Burnaby, B.C., in an apartment on the third floor -- I had borage in containers, and all of a sudden humming birds appeared. Also, my third floor apartment balcony received minimal direct sunlight; it would be what I call BRIGHT shade (reflect from other apartment building windows) and the borage did well, in containers, in a compost and soil mixture.

Reply or Post a new comment

19 Oct 15, Peter Kirstein (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)

I live in Dundee, KZN. Where can I buy seed for planting my own Borage?

Reply or Post a new comment

17 Oct 14, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)

I thought Comfrey was good as a fertiliser, not Borage. If it is that's great as I find it coming up everywhere! I keep bees and they love it. It grows nine months a year here. Flowers look lovely in ice blocks.

Reply or Post a new comment

01 Oct 14, Amanda (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)

This grows into a huge shrub in my garden in Cape Town! I'd say spacing is more like 100 cm x 100 cm, not 20 cm apart

Reply or Post a new comment

01 Dec 13, Max (Australia - temperate climate)

Borage is great with pasta as well!! Just get some young leaves, chop them in a half, get the water boiling. In the mean time peel one small potato per pasta portion. I use fusilli. Chop potatoes finely and throw pasta borage and potatoes at once, with a pinch of extra salt for the spuds! While it's cooking, fry some anchovies and garlic in a frying pan, then drain the pasta and throw it in the frying pan and saute for a couple of minutes. Delicious and unique! Buon appetito!

Reply or Post a new comment

12 Nov 13, Shane Mcsweeney (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have had wonderful success with Borage this year in melbourne. It survived a cold winter and has had the most amazing blue flowers. In conjunction with mustard i have had excellent bee activity for the last few months as we have entered spring now. As Borage grew quite big in my vege garden, i am hoping to only have one plat growing as a companion. I haven't used it for any eating yet, but i have read it is ok for salads.

Reply or Post a new comment

19 May 13, Lockie (Australia - temperate climate)

Borage is a great bee attractor. Only use young (small) leaves in salads as they get bigger they get fury.

Reply or Post a new comment