How to grow Borage in New Zealand
Borage is an easy annual herb with bristly leaves and drooping, star-shaped sky-blue flowers that bees love, which makes it one of the most useful plants to grow near summer vegetables. The flowers are edible and pretty in salads and drinks, and young leaves taste of cucumber. Once you have it, it self-seeds and comes back year after year.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Borage in New Zealand
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | September to April | |
| Auckland | September to April | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | September to April | |
| Central North Island | September to April | |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | September to April | |
| Nelson & Marlborough | September to April | |
| Canterbury | September to March | Make the last sowing in Mar so the crop is ready before winter growth stops. |
| Otago & Southland | October to March | Start spring sowings in Oct under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to late October. Make the last sowing in Mar so the crop is ready before winter growth stops. |
| Central Otago | October to February | Start spring sowings in Oct under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run into early November. Make the last sowing in Feb so the crop is ready before winter growth stops. |
Where to plant
Sow borage in full sun in free-draining soil with a little organic matter mixed in. It is undemanding and grows fast. Plants can flop in wind, so give them a sheltered spot or a stake in exposed gardens. Plant it near crops that need bees, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and strawberries.
- Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, the central North Island, Wellington, and Nelson and Marlborough: sow from September to April, after the frosts in spring.
- Canterbury: sow from September to March, with the last sowing in March.
- Otago and Southland: sow from October to March, starting under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to late October.
- Central Otago: sow from October to February, with early sowings under cover, as frosts can run into early November.
How to plant
- Mix compost or blood and bone into a sunny spot.
- Sow seed directly where it is to grow, about 1 cm deep, and cover lightly.
- Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear, usually in 5 to 14 days.
- Thin plants to 30 to 40 cm apart.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly until plants are established, then only in dry spells. Borage needs little feeding; an occasional liquid feed encourages more leaves and flowers.
Pruning and care through the year
- Stake tall plants in windy spots.
- Leave a few plants to drop seed if you want borage to come back next year, and pull out unwanted seedlings while they are small.
- Cut spent plants and use the leaves as mulch or add them to the compost.
Harvesting
Pick flowers as they open, regularly, so the plant keeps flowering. Pick tender young leaves for salads before they get too bristly. Use flowers straight after picking and leaves within two days.
Growing in pots
Borage can be grown in a deep pot, at least 25 to 30 cm, in full sun with quality potting mix. Keep the mix moist until plants establish and feed every three weeks. It gets tall, so a large pot is better.
Using it
Float the flowers in drinks, freeze them in ice cubes, or scatter them over salads and cakes. Young leaves can be chopped into salads or yoghurt dips for a cucumber flavour. Borage leaves contain small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can harm the liver, so eat the leaves only occasionally and in small amounts.
Varieties
- Borage (blue)
- White Borage
Companion planting
Borage is grown mainly to bring bees to crops that need pollinating.
Good companions
- Strawberry Bees drawn to borage also visit the strawberry flowers.
- Tomato Brings bees and other insects into the tomato bed.
- Cucumber Cucumbers need bees to carry pollen between flowers, and borage draws them in.
- Zucchini Zucchini also needs bees to set fruit, so borage nearby helps.
Pests and diseases
Borage has very few pests.
Borage is rarely troubled by pests.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery coating on older leaves in late summer. Pull out tired plants.
Common questions
Is borage good for bees?
Yes. Its blue flowers are one of the best sources of nectar for bees in a vegetable garden, which is why it is planted near crops that need pollinating.
Can you eat borage?
The flowers are edible and used in salads, drinks and on cakes, and young leaves taste of cucumber. The leaves contain small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, so eat them only occasionally and in small amounts.
Does borage come back every year?
It is an annual, but it self-seeds readily, so once it is established new plants usually come up each year.
When do I sow borage in New Zealand?
From September to March in most regions, after the spring frosts. In Otago, Southland and Central Otago, start in October under cover.
Can I transplant borage?
It is best sown directly where it is to grow. If you move self-sown seedlings, do it while they are small and water them in well.
How tall does borage grow?
Usually 60 to 100 cm. Stake it in windy gardens.
Sources we checked: Yates NZ: How to grow borage; Kings Seeds: Borage; Wikipedia: Borage.