Since I posted yesterday I have had a few comments and a lot of emails about Borage so I got out my gardening books to share some info about this great plant.
BORAGO officinalis, or Borage for us laymen. It grows in all zones (thought dandelions were the only thing that grew in all zones!), sun or shade, tolerates poor soil and drought. Great soil binding ground cover. It grows 1-3 feet tall...Wow, what a plant!
It is has bristly gray green leaves that have a cucumberlike flavor. You can use the small new leaves for salads, pickling, or cooked greens..."Hey honey we're having roast beef and pickled Borage for dinner" I'm sure hubby would be just thrilled, lol! The periwinkle blue flowers are a great garnish for salads.
Now for the caution from personal experience...this self seeds freely. I find the stuff growing everywhere. I just let it grow to feed our honeybees but just be warned!
It is rumored to repell tomato hornworms but I can't say since I don't have that particular pest...now if it repelled slugs I would be out doing a happy dance in my field of Borage!!!
Next spring give it a try! Kim the Inadvertent Farmer
