dave said:Anderwood, borage is praised as a companion plant and although I can't point to the evidence, I am sure that it improves the flavor and vigor of tomatoes. We also love to eat the flowers.

I love those blue flowers on borage but I have never tried to eat it. Only have ever grown borage to attract bees. The stuff does love to self seed so once you plant it, you should have it for years. But I never thought of planting it in my tomato plots. Great idea, and I will be planting some among the tomatoes next spring.

Ahhh, good! I can plant it into my new shade garden. It all gets some sun for part of the day but stays rather cool in our hot summer, as long as I keep it watered well. (Sometimes twice daily...) Oh, and maybe I will plant some seeds in the tomato beds as well.

Dave/All

Just stumbled upon this thread as I've had a similar relationship with my borage this year. Were you able to do any mitigation that allowed them to thrive in this environment? Of course, its been a hotter and drier start to summer than normal but I'd love to find a way/place to keep them around?

I never made it work, and I stopped trying to grow them. Comfrey, on the other hand, does quite well for me!

Sorry to hear - they are beautiful!

I live south of Atlanta and grow beautiful borage. Comfrey too!

I started some borage before i found this discussion. I have it planted in different areas in the garden and around the house. I will let you know if any survive the summer!

I'm growing borage this year, after several years without! I have it near a tree for afternoon shade. Hoping it likes it there. Will be reporting progress also.

I haven't tried growing comfrey again since it's unfortunate encounter with my dh and the weedeater! I thought comfrey might come back from the roots after being wacked like that, but it didn't. The same event caused the death of the horehound and the chicory. Yes, I know it seems unbelievable but it's true!!

The borage I planted last spring did ok until the summer heat finally did them in around late July or August. However, they did have time to go to seed and I have this beauty that popped up this winter and is almost ready to bloom.




I thought I had a close up, but im not finding it.

Nice, Tracy.

I have a big borage plant or two growing from fallen seed in one of my gardens right now too. We've had a mild winter but it has survived all winter, down to 22° F which was the coldest night we've had here. Apparently borage likes cold much better than hot. lol

In our zone, borage is one of the early plants to poke through ( it reseeds readily). It does die back a bit in the heat of summer, but usually gets another flush later when the temperatures cool off a bit.

Mine survived the heat of day when the nights were at least chilly- not something we see this far south. Humidity levels were horrid as well especially at ground level- have been toying with the idea of trying it in a raised bed above the dewpoints, and in an area with a lot more shade...when I get that bed put in. Never had it get large, but it was pretty til I had to leave out on the road and the neglect got it.
When I plant companion plants I am more after the ones that make the deer hesitate...french marigolds, peppermint, basils, onions/garlic... I have learned that the french marigolds emit a limonene (if memory serves) that deer don't care for. Since deer don't like to wade thru stinky stuff for their food I am hoping it is at least a deterrent...

I don't have problem growing borage here in California. This year, I sowed some borage, some basil, and I have marigolds near my tomato plants.

Maybe it's humidity?

I planted some last year and when the heat and humidity got going in the summer it died off. However, this winter (mild here), several plants popped up. Now they are starting to look like the heat is getting to them, or maybe they are just completing their life cycle. Here is a pic back early in the spring.
Maybe fall planting is best for southern climates.

Newyorkrita said:

I love those blue flowers on borage but I have never tried to eat it. Only have ever grown borage to attract bees. The stuff does love to self seed so once you plant it, you should have it for years. But I never thought of planting it in my tomato plots. Great idea, and I will be planting some among the tomatoes next spring.

It tastes like cucumber, IIRC.

Any Texas folks ever tried planting them in the late summer akin to a Fall vegetable? I could start a few from seed, maybe put them out early September??? Any thoughts?

ricelg said:Any Texas folks ever tried planting them in the late summer akin to a Fall vegetable? I could start a few from seed, maybe put them out early September??? Any thoughts?

So in the spring of 2018 I planted borage. They didn't get that big before they died back by July. But this winter I had several plants that came up from self sown seed. Beautiful big plants that my neighbors bees loved. I was going to collect seed this month as they are already dying back, but I was too late. I already have plants coming up again. I think I will transplant a few and see what happens over the rest of the summer. But to answer your question, i think they would do well in September.



The plant in the middle of the picture was borage on February. It more than doubled in size by May.

In my zone 10A garden Borage is a thug in spring. As weather warms up, it spreads seeds everywhere, so I pull it (no easy task) when the blooms drop and leaves start withering. … and pull seedlings for the rest of the summer to prevent it from taking over everything. The bees love it!

Mine s coming up strongly. This is where I have my tomato plants.