When to plant Borage in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Sow borage direct from November to December, once frost has passed and the soil has warmed, since young plants dislike cold, wet ground. Seed germinates in 14–21 days at 10 mm deep, and plants reach flowering size quickly in 56–70 days. Thin to 30 cm spacing with 30–45 cm between rows to give the sprawling, hairy stems room. Although borage is hardy once established, in cool districts like Hobart, Ballarat and Orange it establishes best from a late-spring sowing. It is a superb companion near tomatoes, cucumber and strawberries, attracting pollinators and helping deter tomato hornworm.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

Green months are your sowing window: November to December.

Growing notes

Borage is a generous, easy herb that earns its place mainly through the pollinators it draws. Its bright blue star flowers are alive with bees, which is why it is such a valued companion beside tomatoes, cucumber and strawberries, improving fruit set nearby and traditionally said to sweeten strawberry flavour. In a cool climate it grows fast once the soil warms, so a November or December sowing gives flowers well before the first autumn frost.

Sow direct at 10 mm into a sunny, free-draining spot. Borage resents transplanting because of its taproot, so always sow it where it is to grow. It is not fussy about soil and copes with lean ground, though it appreciates steady moisture while establishing.

Common failure mode: in cool, damp gardens borage grows large and soft, then flops and rots at the base, or powdery mildew spots the older leaves late in the season. The fix is full sun, generous 30 cm spacing for airflow, and restraint with water and feed once established, since over-rich conditions produce a floppy, disease-prone plant.

Borage self-seeds prolifically. One plant will happily populate a corner of the garden for years, so either welcome the volunteers or remove spent flower heads before they scatter. The young leaves and flowers are edible, with a mild cucumber flavour.

Borage at a glance

Companion planting

Grows well with

Tomatoes: Deters tomato hornworm; attracts pollinators

Cucumber: Deters tomato hornworm; attracts pollinators for better fruit set

Strawberries: Traditionally thought to improve strawberry flavour; attracts pollinators

Common questions

what does borage attract

Borage is a magnet for bees and other pollinators, which is why it is planted near tomatoes, cucumber and strawberries to improve fruit set. It is also traditionally believed to deter tomato hornworm and to improve strawberry flavour.

can you transplant borage seedlings

It is best not to. Borage forms a taproot and resents disturbance, so it often sulks or bolts after transplanting. Sow it direct at 10 mm where it is to grow, from November to December once the soil has warmed.

does borage come back every year

It is grown as an annual but self-seeds so freely that it effectively returns year after year from dropped seed. In cool gardens like Orange and Ballarat one plant will readily populate a corner unless you remove spent flower heads.

what can I plant with borage

Borage pairs well with tomatoes, cucumber and strawberries. Near tomatoes and cucumber it attracts pollinators and is thought to deter hornworm, and near strawberries it draws pollinators for better fruit set.

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