The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Herbs => Topic started by: northfifeduckling on October 31, 2011, 01:57:02 pm

Title: what to do with Borage?
Post by: northfifeduckling on October 31, 2011, 01:57:02 pm
it has self-seeded all over the veg plot - what can I do with it? Nobody likes the texture of the leaves in a salad here and the flowers are nearly finished now. I know the seeds are supposed to be healthy but seem to be difficult to harvest! I just can not bring myself to just chuck it all on the compost  ::) :&>
Title: Re: what to do with Borage?
Post by: SallyintNorth on October 31, 2011, 02:55:21 pm
it has self-seeded all over the veg plot - what can I do with it?
I think you can put it in drinks like Pimms, but I don't think it goes with mulled wine, which is more seasonal...

If you don't like it in salads, I'd just enjoy it, compost it when it goes over, and look forward to more and yet more next year...!  ;) :D
Title: Re: what to do with Borage?
Post by: Fleecewife on October 31, 2011, 02:58:03 pm
I believe it's related to comfrey so it is a positive addition to the compost heap.  As Sally says, look forward to lots more next year because the bees  :bee: :bee: :bee: absolutely love it
Title: Re: what to do with Borage?
Post by: Plantoid on November 01, 2011, 08:40:30 pm
I believe it's related to comfrey so it is a positive addition to the compost heap.  As Sally says, look forward to lots more next year because the bees  :bee: :bee: :bee: absolutely love it

 The bees will go absolutely  beserk for the high quality sugars produced in the stems after you cut it 3 or so inches off the ground after the flowers have dies off . just don't stand in the line from hives and plants or you'll get machine gunned by busy irritated bees as you'll be in their flight lines and liable to be badly stung.

 if you do have bees and have no other need for the plant leave both parts of the plant where they fall till the bees stop taking the sugars from both of them