Borage: White (Borago Officinalis Bianca)
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$1.00
$1.00 - $5.60
$1.00
per item
Like the common blue borage, this white variant is edible. The flowers, which have a flavor reminiscent of cucumber, can be added to summer drinks or as a garnish on salads and other cold dishes. The leaves can also be added, wilted, to Mediterranean recipes such as pasta sauces and to ravioli stuffing. Borage is very attractive to pollinating insects
Scientific Name: Borago Officinalis Bianca
Ease of Growing: Moderate
Grown as: Annual
Maturity (Blooms): June to August
Hardiness: Half Hardy. Borage is half hardy, and can resist light frost.
Crops: Spring
Growing Season: Short, Long
Growing Conditions: Cool, Warm. Borage thrives in cool climates and likes full sun, although it can tolerate partial shade. In hot climates, partial shade is best. The plant is very adaptable to a variety of environmental conditions and will grow very easily.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 55°F - 80°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 60°F. Borage can be sowed outdoors once the soil temperature reaches roughly 60˚ F, but germinates best around 70˚ F.
Start Indoors: No
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun min. 6 hours daily (Cool, Warm). Plant Borage in a sunny part of the garden.
Water: Dry to medium. Borage seedlings will require regular watering, but once established, the plant is fairly drought tolerant.
Soil Moisture: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained.
Maintenance: Low
Feeder: Light. Borage will grow fine in poor soil but will grow taller in soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. Soil too rich in nitrogen may cause the plant to bloom less.
Suitability: Tolerates light frost
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. Borage will grow well in containers that are at least 12" deep.
Plant Height: 24"
Spacing: 8-10"
Sow Depth: 1/4"
Produces: plants with wrinkled, hairy leaves on hollow stems with drooping clusters of star shaped, bright white flowers.
USDA Grow Zone: 2-11
Garden Uses: Best grown in herb or wild gardens. Leaves may be used in cold drinks, salads or as cooked greens. Flowers serve as attractive garnishes.
Ease of Growing: Moderate
Grown as: Annual
Maturity (Blooms): June to August
Hardiness: Half Hardy. Borage is half hardy, and can resist light frost.
Crops: Spring
Growing Season: Short, Long
Growing Conditions: Cool, Warm. Borage thrives in cool climates and likes full sun, although it can tolerate partial shade. In hot climates, partial shade is best. The plant is very adaptable to a variety of environmental conditions and will grow very easily.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 55°F - 80°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 60°F. Borage can be sowed outdoors once the soil temperature reaches roughly 60˚ F, but germinates best around 70˚ F.
Start Indoors: No
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun min. 6 hours daily (Cool, Warm). Plant Borage in a sunny part of the garden.
Water: Dry to medium. Borage seedlings will require regular watering, but once established, the plant is fairly drought tolerant.
Soil Moisture: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained.
Maintenance: Low
Feeder: Light. Borage will grow fine in poor soil but will grow taller in soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. Soil too rich in nitrogen may cause the plant to bloom less.
Suitability: Tolerates light frost
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. Borage will grow well in containers that are at least 12" deep.
Plant Height: 24"
Spacing: 8-10"
Sow Depth: 1/4"
Produces: plants with wrinkled, hairy leaves on hollow stems with drooping clusters of star shaped, bright white flowers.
USDA Grow Zone: 2-11
Garden Uses: Best grown in herb or wild gardens. Leaves may be used in cold drinks, salads or as cooked greens. Flowers serve as attractive garnishes.
Soil Preference:
Soil pH: 4.5-8.5, Ideal 6.0-7.0. Borage is a very adaptable plant, thriving in nearly all soil types, especially in well-drained soils.
Soil Preparation:
Compost (Nitrogen), 2 inches, in top 10" of soil, 1 time: Incorporate 2" of compost into the top 10" of soil.
Standard Mix, 5 pounds per 100 sq. ft., in top 10" of soil, 1 time: Incorporate 5 pounds of standard mix into the top 10" of soil. A standard mix will supply all necessary nutrients. This is a mix of various amendments intended to supply all of the nutrients plants may require. It is usually incorporated into the soil prior to planting. The mix consists of:
Mix these together thoroughly. You can do this all at once, or you can store them separately and mix as needed.
Soil pH: 4.5-8.5, Ideal 6.0-7.0. Borage is a very adaptable plant, thriving in nearly all soil types, especially in well-drained soils.
Soil Preparation:
Compost (Nitrogen), 2 inches, in top 10" of soil, 1 time: Incorporate 2" of compost into the top 10" of soil.
Standard Mix, 5 pounds per 100 sq. ft., in top 10" of soil, 1 time: Incorporate 5 pounds of standard mix into the top 10" of soil. A standard mix will supply all necessary nutrients. This is a mix of various amendments intended to supply all of the nutrients plants may require. It is usually incorporated into the soil prior to planting. The mix consists of:
- 4 parts cottonseed meal (this is high in nitrogen and relatively inexpensive)
- 2 parts colloidal phosphate or bone meal (for phosphorus)
- 2 parts wood ash or 3 parts greensand or granite dust (for potassium)
- 1 part dolomitic limestone (to balance pH and add calcium and magnesium)
- 1 part kelp meal (for trace elements)
Mix these together thoroughly. You can do this all at once, or you can store them separately and mix as needed.
Borage thrives in partial shade or full sun and well drained, rich soil; it can also grow very well in poor soil or dry conditions. Since it does not transplant well, direct seeding is the best option. After the last frost of spring when the soil has warmed, sow seeds 1/4" deep and 12-15" apart in rows 18" apart. Germination should occur within 7-14 days.
Keep the soil fairly moist and weeds under control. Since too much soil contact can cause the drooping leaves to rot, a layer of mulch may be helpful. If the plant grows tall and begins to fall over, staking or a trellis may be necessary. Remove wilted blossoms to encourage new flowers.
Borage does not require very much attention, and will probably grow year after year with or without any help. Mulching can help the soil retain moisture for seedlings and during drought periods, as well as discourage weeds from competing with your plants. Mulching also helps to keep the leaves off the ground, where they could rot.
Water Needs: Moderate. Borage seedlings will require regular watering, but once established, the plant is fairly drought tolerant.
Fertilizer Needs: Light. Borage will grow fine in poor soil but will grow taller in soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. Soil too rich in nitrogen may cause the plant to bloom less.
Watering, regularly: Water, 0.5 inches regularly, 2 times a week. After sowing, keep the soil evenly moist to ensure adequate moisture for germination and seedlings. Once established plants can tolerate short droughts, but will be more successful if watered regularly. Watering also depends on your local weather; don't water if it's raining, or water more frequently if it's dry. Just be sure to keep soil moist but never soggy for the best crop. The best way to know how much moisture is in your soil is to feel 2" below the soil line. If it's dry, water.
Side Dressing, when 4" tall: Mulch, 2 inches, when 4" tall, 1 time. Using a 2" layer of mulch will help to keep the soil evenly moist and block weeds that would compete with your plants for nutrients and water.
Water Needs: Moderate. Borage seedlings will require regular watering, but once established, the plant is fairly drought tolerant.
Fertilizer Needs: Light. Borage will grow fine in poor soil but will grow taller in soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. Soil too rich in nitrogen may cause the plant to bloom less.
Watering, regularly: Water, 0.5 inches regularly, 2 times a week. After sowing, keep the soil evenly moist to ensure adequate moisture for germination and seedlings. Once established plants can tolerate short droughts, but will be more successful if watered regularly. Watering also depends on your local weather; don't water if it's raining, or water more frequently if it's dry. Just be sure to keep soil moist but never soggy for the best crop. The best way to know how much moisture is in your soil is to feel 2" below the soil line. If it's dry, water.
Side Dressing, when 4" tall: Mulch, 2 inches, when 4" tall, 1 time. Using a 2" layer of mulch will help to keep the soil evenly moist and block weeds that would compete with your plants for nutrients and water.
Harvesting
About 6-8 weeks after planting when the plant has been well established, harvesting of the leaves can begin. Small, tender leaves are preferred for culinary use because the older leaves are covered with prickly hairs. Harvest the leaves or flowers in the morning after the dew has dried, choosing flowers that are just beginning to open. Though the leaves and flowers keep for several days in the refrigerator, they tend to lose their flavor when frozen.
Storage
Leaves can be frozen but most gardeners only use them fresh. Place leaves in a plastic bag to freeze. You can also put them in ice cube trays for a fun, colorful addition to drinks. Kids love it!
Storage Req: Freezer
Storage Temp: 32°F
Storage Length: days
Leaves and stems can be refrigerated for 3 to 5 days if wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag.
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-5 days
Storage Req: Freezer
Storage Temp: 32°F
Storage Length: days
Leaves and stems can be refrigerated for 3 to 5 days if wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag.
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-5 days
Borage reseeds itself very easily if left alone, though the seeds can easily be collected. Remove the seed heads when they have fully matured and begin to dry; spread them out in a protected location away from direct sunlight to finish drying. Thresh the seeds and remove the debris. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place.
Seed Viability in Years: 3-5 years
Germination Percentage: 70%
Seed Viability in Years: 3-5 years
Germination Percentage: 70%
Culinary
Taste: Mild, cucumber-like taste.
Culinary Use: Young, tender leaves can be used fresh in salads or cooked like spinach or other braising greens. Blue flowers add vibrant color to salads and add a taste of cucumber. Flowers can also be used as garnish for lemonade, punch, iced tea, and even on cakes! Blooming tops can be boiled to make an herbal tea.
Culinary Use: Young, tender leaves can be used fresh in salads or cooked like spinach or other braising greens. Blue flowers add vibrant color to salads and add a taste of cucumber. Flowers can also be used as garnish for lemonade, punch, iced tea, and even on cakes! Blooming tops can be boiled to make an herbal tea.
Medicinal
Borage is a fairly common domestic herbal remedy that has been used since ancient times. It has a particularly good reputation for its beneficial affect on the mind, being used to dispel melancholy and induce euphoria. It is a soothing saline, diuretic herb that soothes damaged or irritated tissues. The leaves, and to a lesser extent the flowers, are demulcent, diaphoretic, depurative, mildly diuretic, emollient, expectorant, febrifuge, lenitive and mildly sedative. An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of a range of ailments including fevers, chest problems and kidney problems, though it should not be prescribed to people with liver problems. Externally it is used as a poultice for inflammatory swellings. The leaves are harvested in late spring and the summer as the plant comes into flower. They can be used fresh or dried but should not be stored for more than one year because they soon lose their medicinal properties. The seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid, this oil helps to regulate the hormonal systems and lowers blood pressure. It is used both internally and externally, helping to relieve skin complaints and pre-menstrual tension.
Hazards of Borage: The plant, but not the oil obtained from the seeds, contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage and liver cancer. These alkaloids are present in too small a quantity to be harmful unless you make borage a major part of your diet, though people with liver problems would be wise to avoid using the leaves or flowers of this plant.
Hazards of Borage: The plant, but not the oil obtained from the seeds, contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage and liver cancer. These alkaloids are present in too small a quantity to be harmful unless you make borage a major part of your diet, though people with liver problems would be wise to avoid using the leaves or flowers of this plant.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Companion plant for tomatoes, squash, strawberries and most plants. Deters tomato hornworms and cabbage worms. One of the best bee and wasp attracting plants. Adds trace minerals to the soil and a good addition the compost pile. The leaves contain vitamin C and are rich in calcium, potassium and mineral salts. Borage may benefit any plant it is growing next to via increasing resistance to pests and disease. It also makes a nice mulch for most plants. Borage and strawberries help each other and strawberry farmers always set a few plants in their beds to enhance the fruits flavor and yield. Plant near tomatoes to improve growth and disease resistance. After you have planned this annual once it will self seed. Borage flowers are edible.
Nutrition
The leaves contain gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. Leaves are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Iron, Copper, Zinc, and B-Complex Vitamins including Niacin.
Health Benefits of Borage Essential Oils
Due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, borage oil containing GLA can be helpful for treating a wide range of both short- and long-term illnesses, including:
- PMS symptoms (including breast pain or tenderness, anxiety, and skin breakouts)
- Bone loss and osteoporosis (especially when combined with bone-building supplements like omega-3 fish oils)
- ADHD symptoms
- Skin disorders, including eczema or dermatitis
- Menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats
- Hormonal imbalances, including adrenal insufficiency
- Ongoing fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis pain
- Dealing with stress
- Managing diabetes
- Promoting breast-milk production
- Respiratory distress (ARDS), bronchitis, colds, coughs and fevers
- Alcoholism
- Inflammation causing pain and swelling
- Preventing heart disease and stroke
Suggested Varieties
Tomato: Amana Orange (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
$1.00 - $5.60
The Amana Orange tomato is an Iowa heirloom obtained from Gary Staley of Brandon, Florida, who named it for the Amana Colonies of Amana, Iowa. The Amana Colonies, a National Historic Landmark since 1965, were completely self sufficient German Pietist communities. The Colonies imported with them their traditions and handcrafts from Germany, including heirloom vegetables such as Amana Orange.
Tomato: Beefsteak (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
$1.00 - $5.60
Seed expert Peter Henderson introduced this tomato in 1894, naming it "Henderson's Crimson Cushion." Later renamed Beefsteak, it became a favorite of gardeners in the Northeast. It was developed for resistance to fusarium wilt and nematodes, as well as meaty flesh for eating fresh or cooking.
Tomato: Green Zebra (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
$1.00 - $5.60
Seed expert Tom Wagner of Everett, Washington bred Green Zebra from several green tomato varieties, including Evergreen. Since he was young, Tom had been fascinated with green tomatoes, but was disappointed with their tendency to crack. He set out to create a new green tomato, and Green Zebra was the result; he first offered it for sale in his seed catalog in 1983.
Tomato: Sweetie Cherry (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
$1.00 - $5.60
The Heirloom Sweetie Cherry Tomato has a firm texture and was produced for commercial sale in 1980. These succulent fruits can grow up to 1" in diameter, and even though they aren't very big, they still have incredibly high sugar content.
Tomato: Yellow Pear (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
$1.00 - $5.60
History well documents the Yellow Pear tomato, indicating the presence of this variety in Europe as early as the 17th century. The earliest known reference to this heirloom in North America comes from the sale records of the Hudson Bay Company in Vancouver, Canada. Numerous heirloom seed companies in the United States still offer Yellow Pear as an unusual, delicious little tomato.
Squash, Summer: Dark Green Zucchini (Heirloom) (Cucurbita pepo)
$1.00 - $5.60
Only a few left!
This is the traditional and reliable zucchini that just keeps on producing! Fruits are dark green, and nice and straight! Matures in about 60 days. Average water needs. Attractive to bees, butterflies, and/or birds.
Squash, Summer: Black Beauty Zucchini (Heirloom) (Cucurbita pepo)
$1.00 - $5.60
The long loved American heirloom bush-type zucchini variety we all know as 'Black Beauty' was bred at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in Storrs, Connecticut sometime in the 1920's. This was accomplished by stabilizing a cross between 'Caserta' and 'Salerno' zucchini varieties. Then it was introduced into the AAS by breeder John Scarchuk and was selected as the All American Selection winner in 1957. In 45-60 days, this space saving compact plant produces shiny black-green zucchini with creamy, white flesh that are the tastiest when harvested at 6-8” long. Black Beauty can be enjoyed raw, boiled, baked, stir fried, and even sauteed!
Squash, Summer: Early White Bush Scallop (Heirloom) (Cucurbita pepo)
$1.00 - $5.60
With a delicate, mild flavor, much akin to zucchini, the scallop squash, is a small variety of summer squash. Lesser known than its relatives yellow squash or zucchini, patty pans have a distinct shape which some people describe as similar to a flying saucer.
Squash, Summer: Early Yellow Crookneck (Heirloom) (Cucurbita pepo)
$1.00 - $5.60
Crookneck Squash is part of the original "three sisters" plantings found by colonists when they arrived in the new world. Native American's used the grouping of corn, beans and crookneck squash so the plants all would benefit each other. Crookneck squash was a crucial food source for the American settlers and has been sold since 1928.
Squash, Summer: Grey Zucchini (Heirloom) (Cucurbita pepo)
$1.00 - $5.60
History records that Columbus carried this then unfamiliar member of the cucumber family back to Europe after his first voyage. In Italy it acquired the name "zucchino," meaning a small squash; the French name for a zucchini, which the English later adopted, is "courgette." Italian immigrants later brought the zucchini back to the United States, where it became the most popular and commonly available variety of summer squash.
Squash, Summer: Scallop Yellow Bush (Heirloom) (Cucurbita pepo)
$1.00 - $5.60
This colorful patty pan squash predates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World. It is a rare Native American squash, having been domesticated in North America centuries before the arrival of explorers and settlers.
Squash, Winter: Vegetable Spaghetti (Heirloom) (Cucurbita maxima)
$1.00 - $5.60
Originally from China, vegetable spaghetti squash was introduced to Japan in 1921 by a Chinese agricultural research company. The Burpee Seed Company introduced this variety to the United States in 1936; most World War II Victory Gardens contained this squash, more commonly known as spaghetti squash.