🌿 When to Plant Borage

🌿 Herb
Cool Season

Self-seeds prolifically; star-shaped blue flowers edible; excellent bee attractor

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 May 16
Zone 3B May 15 May 1
Zone 4A May 8 Apr 24
Zone 4B May 1 Apr 17
Zone 5A Apr 25 Apr 11
Zone 5B Apr 18 Apr 4
Zone 6A Apr 21 Apr 7
Zone 6B Apr 10 Mar 27
Zone 7A Apr 5 Mar 22
Zone 7B Mar 28 Mar 14
Zone 8A Mar 20 Mar 6
Zone 8B Mar 12 Feb 26
Zone 9A Feb 28 Feb 14
Zone 9B Feb 15 Feb 1
Zone 10A Feb 1 Jan 18
Zone 10B Jan 15 Jan 1
Zone 11A Jan 1 Dec 18

Borage is a cheerful, easy annual with brilliant blue star-shaped flowers that are edible, beautiful, and irresistible to bees.

Top Growing Tips

  • Direct sow after last frost — doesn’t transplant well due to taproot
  • Self-seeds aggressively; weed seedlings to control spread
  • Freeze flowers in ice cubes for elegant cocktail garnishes
  • Wilts in heat but recovers overnight — don’t overwater
  • Plant near strawberries and tomatoes as a companion and bee attractor

Companion Planting

Good companions: tomatoes, strawberries, squash

Avoid planting near: No significant conflicts

Harvest Timeline

Harvest flowers anytime; pick regularly to extend bloom period