Continuing on with the series, we now come to companion planting borage. Borage is a very helpful plant to grow in the vegetable garden. So what is it? and what to grow it with?
What Is Borage
Borage is an annual herb that has it’s origins in the Mediteranean, it will grow quite happily in the United Kingdom. Although Borage is an annual it freely self seeds so once sown it will return every year.
Companion Planting Borage
Borage is a great companion plant, and many plants will benefit from having borage in their proximity. Plants that do particularly well with borage are listed below.
Plants That Grow Well With Borage
- Fruit Trees
- Squashes
- Cucumbers
- Brassicas
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
What are the Benefits of Companion Planting Borage?
Many predatory insects are attracted to Borage and many pollinating insects too. The tomato horn worm moth and the cabbage white butterfly are both confused by the insect activity around borage plants.
Therefore they will not be able to lay their eggs and consequentially will not produce caterpillars.
So grow borage around your tomatoes and/or brassica plants to protect from caterpillar infestation.
Borage and Strawberries
There has been much written about the pairing up of borage and strawberries, and from what I can make out it’s because of all the pollinators. Strawberries flower at the same time as borage. So the pollinators drift from one plant to another and mutually benefit.
Borage will if deadheaded rebloom throughout the growing season.
Borage and Fruit Trees
Grow borage around fruit trees and you will achieve a much higher pollination rate. As the pollinators are then attracted to the fruit blossom.
Other Reasons to Grow Borage
The deep tap roots scour the soil for nutrients and will be a great addition to the compost pile. Borage also makes a great mulch, not only inhibiting moisture loss but also adding nutrients as it rots down.
The leaves and flowers of borage are edible and taste like cucumber. In fact the flowers are a staple in pims and the attractive blue flowers are instantly recognisable.
So that’s my reasons for growing borage have you tried it?