How to grow borage

Borago officinalis · starflower

Borage (Borago officinalis) — a coarse, bristly annual 60–90 cm tall with grey-green leaves and drooping, star-shaped, bright blue flowers. Leaves and flowers are edible and taste of cucumber. Borage grows best in full sun. Water it about every 5 days while it grows.

Updated: November 4, 2026

When to sow borage?

Sow straight into the bed after your last spring frost, once the soil has warmed.

The first harvest comes about 45 days after the shoots appear.

Frost dates · When to plant

Quick facts

Type	Herb
Latin name	Borago officinalis
Family	Boraginaceae
Also called	starflower
Planted as	seed
How it is started	sown straight into the bed
Life span	grown for one season
Planting season	spring
Light	Full sun
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for sowing	from 4 °C
Germination	10 days
Shoots to harvest	45 days
Grown in	Open ground

How long does it take to grow borage?

From sowing to the first harvest: about 55 days (8 weeks). Shoots appear after about 10 days, then it takes about 45 days more to the first harvest.

Germination — 10 days
In the bed — 45 days

Step	Day
Sowing	0
Shoots appear	10
First harvest	55

Days count from the day of sowing or planting, by the figures of the card.

Borage is number 7 of 63 on our list from the fastest crop to the slowest. Close to it on the list: bok choy (52 days), dill (54 days), spinach (55 days), lettuce (57 days). Days to harvest: all vegetables, herbs and berries

Borage care by growth stage

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Germination	every 3 days	—	—
Growth	every 5 days	—	—
Harvest	every 5 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Full sun; light shade does it no harm.

Soil

Grows in any average soil and does well even in poor, dry ones; it likes good drainage.

Care

Sow where it will grow, 0.5–1 cm deep, as soon as the soil has warmed in spring; the taproot makes transplanting difficult. Seedlings come up in one to two weeks; thin to 30 cm apart, with rows 60 cm apart. Sow again every four weeks for a steady supply of young leaves. Water only moderately: established plants are fairly drought tolerant. Pick leaves from about seven weeks after sowing, young ones being best, as old leaves are tough and hairy, and pick flowers as they open. The stiff hairs can irritate skin, so wear gloves. Plants are brittle and wind can damage them, so stake them. Cut back by half in midsummer for fresh growth in autumn. It self-sows freely; pick the flower heads regularly to prevent this.

Plant lists it is in

Fast crops: harvest in 75 days or less

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.