Blue Borage - BULK pack Beekeeping - 6 grams 300 Seeds

Flowers:                       June to October

Height:                         60-75cm (24-30in).

Spread:                        45cm (18in)

Soil:                             Moist but well drained

Position:                      Full Sun

Blue flowers are always welcome in the garden: Borage is one of the most reliable sources, often flowering lavishly about 8 weeks after sowing and continuing until the first serious frosts. It grows best in full sun where it tends to have a more compact habit, but it easily tolerates a partial sun exposure. Although the flowering period is typically June to September, many plants extend that period.

The beautiful blue bell-shaped flowers are edible with a cool cucumber flavour. They can be crystallized or used as garnish in fruit cups, summer drinks, wines and Pimms. Chopped leaves make a healthy soup or young leaves can be dipped in batter and lightly fried until crisp. Finely cut leaves make a delicious sandwich filling.

Garden visitors can be converted to herbal advocates simply by offering a taste of its flower!

A delightful, beautiful annual and a very important flower for bees providing both pollen and nectar in prodigious amounts!  

Sow early/ late spring indoors or direct in mid to late spring

Sowing Indoors. Sow in Jan to Feb…normally 4-8 weeks before planting outside. Sow at 1.5mm (1/16in) deep in pots or trays in a good seed compost.

Make sure the compost is moist but not wet and seal inside a polythene bag until germination which usually takes 5-21 days at 21C (70F).

Transplant the indoor seedlings when large enough to handle into boxes, spacing them 5cm (2in) apart.

Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost

Plant 15cm (6in) apart in full sun and ordinary well-drained soil.

Sowing Direct. Sow in March to April. Prepare the area well, marking the area to be sown with sand,

Sow to a depth of 3mm (1/8in). Space 10-15cm (6in) apart. Water in well.

Once seeds have germinated, check and thin out if necessary, any seedlings may be transplanted. The plants will grow quite fast and are quite recognisable from weeds, continue to water throughout periods without rain.

Plant Uses:  

Cottage/Informal Garden, Flowers Borders and Beds or Wildlife Plants.

Bee plant, Culinary

Companion Plants:

Borage is excellent to grow alongside tomatoes and helps to improve strawberry crops, also attracts blackfly so a good companion plant for beans and peas