Beautiful Borage! (Borage)

Member Name: Shekera

Product:	Borage
Date:	09/05/02 (161 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very versatile herb - good for use in the kitchen.

Disadvantages: Won't survive the winter.

Borage originates from Central and Eastern Europe, where it grows in the wilds. Borage plants can grow up to eighteen inches in height about twelve inches in spread, and can be planted directly into the garden into rich soil. They prefer a sunny position, and because of their height and structure, they need to be well protected from the wind. However, do bear in mind that they are not hardy, therefore, must be removed to cover before the first frost. I advise that you keep a plant on your kitchen windowsill for use during the winter months.

Borage can also be sown from seed directly into the grown, in its final growing position – there will be no need to take cuttings as once it is established, it will seed itself. They are good grown near to your tomato plants as they help enhance their flavour!

Borage’s flowers are generally bright blue in colour and star-shaped and they continue to bloom throughout the summer months. However, sometimes the young flowers are pink before turning blue.

Borage has many culinary uses; for instance, the blue flowers are sometimes used as food colouring and also candied for cake decorating. The young leaves can be used in salads and in homemade lemonade or as a garnish for Pimms – this is because of their refreshing flavour, not dissimilar to fresh cucumber.

I set the flowers into ice cubes for garnishing drinks – these look very impressive. Chopped leaves can be added to casseroles and soups just before the end of cooking, and the leaves are great cooked with cabbage (one part Borage to two parts cabbage).

In summary, Borage makes an excellent addition to the herb garden, its blue flowers not only attract the bees and butterflies to my garden but both the flowers and leaves useful as a vegetable for salads and drinks.

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