Borage

1 gram

£1.50

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Description
Planting

Borage Wildflower Seed | Borago officinalis

Sow Rate: 3 gram of seeds per meter square

(Shipped within 1 - 3 days)

Attractive to bees
Annual species
Flowers from June - September
Sowing rate: 3g p/m²

Colour: Blue
Height: Height of 30-50cm.
Latin name: Borago Officinalis
Season: Summer
Setting: Likes poor light well-drained soil in a sunny position.

Borage Borago officinalis Description

Borage, also known as starflower, is an attractive wildflower and herb with striking sky-blue flowers, perfect for informal cottage gardens and wildflower spaces. This easy-to-grow annual is suitable for most soils and thrives in a sunny position. Borage flowers are particularly nectar-rich and very beneficial to bees and other pollinating insects. It will make an excellent companion plant in your vegetable garden.

The flowers and the young leaves of borage are edible with a pleasing cucumber-like flavour. Use it in salads or as a garnish or add the pretty blue flowers to summer drinks.

Borage should be surface sown in the spring from March to May at 3 grams to the square metre. It will self-seed readily so deadhead the flowers before they set seed to prevent it spreading too widely.

When To Sow

Spring or Autumn. Keep an eye on the weather, avoid sowing around the time of frost or drought.

Sowing Rate
See individual product page for sowing rate. Increasing this rate may result in some species out competing others and reducing the rate may result in weeds or grasses dominating. *Tip 1 level teaspoon of wildflower seed is about 1.5g

Flowering Period
Annual species sown in Spring will bloom 8-10 weeks after sowing. Annuals sown in Autumn will bloom the following summer. Perennial species begin to flower the second year after sowing. If managed correctly, these flowers will return year after year.

Ground Preparation
Prepare pots or a bare seedbed in advance of sowing, free of weeds, grass, and other plants so that the wildflower seeds don't have to compete with other plants. This step is essential to establish wildflowers successfully.

Sowing

Lightly dig over and rake the soil to create a fine, firm seedbed.
Shake seed packet and mix the seeds with a carrier if using and scatter over the seedbed.
Lightly rake, roll or walk over the area to create good seed to soil contact. The aim is to push the seeds into the soil rather than to bury them too deep.
Water lightly and take care not to wash the seeds away.

Maintenance
Cut the plants back to 7cm in height after flowering in the autumn. Remove the cuttings to keep soil fertility low and to not smother emerging plants. Do not apply fertiliser or plant food.

This Seed Contains No Filler
Mix with a Carrier such as sand, sterile compost or Ready Brek to bulk the seed for a more even broadcast.