Garden borer 1 g

Introducing the Garden Borer:

A cucumber-scented annual herb and herbaceous plant. The plant is 30-50 cm tall and has hairy stems and leaves. Its drooping blue flowers are good honeysuckle.

The flowers have a sweet yellow colour and are very tender:

The borage flowers and leaves are also rich in calcium, potassium, and essential mineral salts, and high in omega 6. In addition to its medicinal properties, borage offers protection against a variety of garden pests.

Cultivation of borage:

Germination:

Turn thoroughly ripened (composted) organic matter into the soil before planting. The soil should be durable but not compacted. Seeds should be planted to a depth of roughly 60mm and it is important that the soil remains moist throughout germination.

The sprouts should start to emerge from the soil in about 10 days. Once they reach a height of 5cm, thin them out so that they are at least 40cm apart (both seedlings and rows if you have sown more than one row).

Where to plant the borer?

It's important to bear in mind that borage tends to sow its own seeds very intensively, and once it's established in your garden, don't be surprised to see it in several places. Fortunately, stray specimens can be easily pulled out of the soil, and existing ones simply need to have their flowers removed before they can disperse their seeds. Of course, you can save yourself a lot of headachesin the long run by planting your borage not in a garden bed, but in well-separated pots or other plant containers. These should preferably be dry clay pots with loose soil. One of the advantages of growing in pots is that you can move your junipers wherever you want, and it's easier to find space for them when the light conditions change. Besides, bees love them, so you can control where there are more of them in the garden.

Light and soil requirements of borage:

Light requirements:

Borage needs lots of direct sunlight with some partial shade. If you want more flowers and stronger stems, they should get more sunlight than shade.

Soil requirements:

The ideal pH is 6.5, although borage will survive between 4.5-8.5. Borage tolerates cold quite well, but the soil should be at least 10°C underneath - if it's colder than that, it will need extra protection outdoors.

Harvesting and storage of junipers

Leaves

Borage leaves are excellent in salads, but you can also cook them like spinach or kale. It is advisable to pick only the young, tender leaves, as the older ones will become brittle. Harvesting is done in the morning, when the dew has dried up but the sun has not yet warmed up.

This helps to preserve the characteristic flavour of the oils in the juniper. The leaves can also be dried in an oven or in the open air, hanging them up in a warm, well-ventilated, dry room. The dry leaves can be used as a seasoning to taste or as a substitute for salt when cooking.

Flowers:

As mentioned above, the flowers of borage can also be eaten. As mentioned, the borage can also be eaten. It is also a good idea to collect them in the morning, before they start to wilt in the strong sunshine. They can be used in salads, sandwiches, soups and anything else they would be good in. If you harvest too many and don't know what to do with them, freeze them in ice cubes to make elegant garnishes for your favourite juices and punch.