How to Grow Borage
Borago officinalis
Your complete guide to growing Borage.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsWhen to Plant Borage
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | August – September |
| Zone 3 | April – May | — | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | July – October |
| Zone 5 | March – April | — | June – October |
| Zone 6 | March – April | — | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | June – November |
| Zone 8 | February – March | — | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January – February | — | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January | — | April – December |
| Zone 11 | January | — | March – December |
Companion Plants for Borage
✓ Good companions
Borage attracts pollinators and beneficial insects that help control bean pests
Borage deters cabbage worms and other brassica pests while attracting beneficial predatory insects
Borage repels cucumber beetles and attracts pollinators for better fruit set
Both attract beneficial insects and create a diverse ecosystem that supports garden health
Borage may repel aphids and other soft-bodied insects that attack pepper plants
Borage attracts pollinators essential for squash fruit production and deters squash bugs
Borage attracts beneficial insects and may enhance strawberry flavor and yield
Borage repels tomato hornworms and may improve tomato flavor and growth
✗ Keep away from
Juglone produced by black walnut trees is toxic to borage and inhibits its growth
Fennel inhibits growth of most garden plants including borage through allelopathy
Rue can inhibit the growth of borage and other herbs through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
