Herb / Warm season

Common Borage

Pollinator patches and informal herb borders.

Cucumber-like edible flowers used sparingly.

Seed spacing and maturity

Days to maturity
60
Germination temperature
60-80F
Seed depth
0.25 inches
Spacing
18 inches
Row spacing
24 inches
Start method
Direct sow

Frost-date timing

Direct sow
7 days after last frost

Action plan

Can I plant this now?
Use your local last-frost, first-frost, and soil-temperature checks before treating this crop as plantable today.
Start indoors or direct sow?
Direct sow into the final bed when the soil temperature, seed depth, and moisture are ready.
How much space?
18 inches in-row spacing, 24 inches between rows, and 0.25 inch seed depth.
Best companions?
Use this as part of a diverse flowering or herb planting, and treat companion claims as site-specific rather than guaranteed pest control.
Common failure modes?
Can self-sow heavily; deadhead if volunteer seedlings are unwanted. Moderate water during establishment. Average, well-drained soil.

Growing profile

Sun
Full sun to part shade
Water
Moderate water during establishment.
Soil
Average, well-drained soil.
Watch
Can self-sow heavily; deadhead if volunteer seedlings are unwanted.
  • pollinators
  • edible-flowers
  • self-sows
  • beneficial-insects

Browse context

Related varieties

Source: UMN companion planting guide