How to Grow Borage From Seed: 5 Tips for Growing Borage

Borage (Borago officinalis) is a hardy annual herb from the Boraginaceae family. Borage plants can grow up to three feet tall, and feature vibrant, edible blue flowers and prickly cucumber-scented leaves. This multipurpose herb from the Mediterranean is now cultivated globally for its culinary and medicinal uses. Growers commonly harvest borage for its seed oil, which contains high amounts of gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid with purported health properties.

You can begin growing borage in late spring, after the last frost has passed.

1. 1. Choose a site. Borage plants produce the most flowers in full sun, but they can also tolerate partial shade. Choose a planting area that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day for best results.
2. 2. Prepare the soil. Borage prefers well-draining soil, rich in organic matter with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. You can perform a soil test to determine whether your soil is acidic or alkaline.
3. 3. Plant. Sow seeds a half-inch deep in well-draining soil. If planting multiple rows, allow 12 to 18 inches of space between seeds.
4. 4. Water. Water the planting area regularly to establish the seedlings.
   
5. 5. Succession plant. Prolong your growing season by staggering your plantings and sowing borage seeds every few weeks.

Borage is a low-maintenance plant that requires basic routine care to thrive:

1. 1. Companion plant. Companion planting borage next to strawberries and tomatoes can increase their fruit yield, while also fending off tomato hornworms. Borage attracts beneficial insects, pollinators like honeybees, bumblebees, and butterflies, while also serving as a deterrent to cabbage moths. Learn more about companion planting in our complete guide here.
2. 2. Thin your plants. When the seedlings reach five inches tall, thin them back to about 12 inches apart by gently pulling out a few plants. Wear gloves while handling the borage to protect your hands from the plant’s prickly leaves. Thinning your plants gives them more room to grow.
3. 3. Pinch off flowers. Once borage flowers go to seed, they can self-sow and grow prolifically. Remove flower heads towards the end of their lifecycle to prevent self-seeding.
4. 4. Water. Borage plants require routine watering until they establish. After the plant blooms, wait until the soil is mostly dry before watering. Overwatering can hinder the plant’s growth.
5. 5. Mulch. Mulching your borage plants can help suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.

To harvest borage, simply snip young leaves before they grow their prickly hairs. Use scissors to snip off the flowers once they’ve matured.

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