Borage - Borago officinalis it was probably one of the first medicinal plant I planted in my potager, I think the reason was it is so easy to grow and also because it has such beautiful flowers. The leaves are rich in both potassium and calcium, they have a bit salty cucumber flavour which I think is a very pleasant taste . I think it is for that reason that it’s called ‘gurkört’ (cucumber-herb) in Swedish. The leaves are a bit 'downy' (is that the correct word? hairy) I do not really like that, but if you chop up the young leave they can be useful in all sorts of fresh cooking, a 'bit more green' tzatziki, for example, if you use them in warm cooking the hairiness disappears. I use the beautiful blue flowers from Borage in salads, or just sprinkle some as decoration on all kind of food like cakes, cream cheese or drinks.
The Borage, in my garden anyway, are all self sown, but is not a problematic weed, they are easy to manage. I have actually never bought any seeds and that I like. There are some others in my garden that also likes the Borage and those are the birds and the bees and you know we have to look after and care for our small friends especially the bees.
For medicinal uses: Borago officinalis - Plants For A Future
Borage - Borago officinalis at MMS Gardens - Hortus Medicus
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8 comments:
Tyra, I have to say first how much I love your header photo... your fence is great! I used to grow borage and miss it ... thank you for reminding me to get it again next year. I have never eaten the leaves however... I will have to try them too. The flowers are precious however for all the reasons you mention. Lovely in salads and candied or floating in drinks. Yes to caring for our bees!! Carol
The flowers are a lovely blue and it seeds well in my vegetable garden too. Well worth growing.
Borage is one of my fave's too and I have white borage too which I like even more than the blue one. The bees are absolutely mad about borage I noticed this summer. BTW I still have borage in flower, both the blue and the white and i love it.
Tyra, Thank you for posting about borage. I have never grown it and now I am interested in trying to do so! I am going to check American heirloom seed companies to see if they have any borage seeds for sale. Willow
Hi Carol and thank you I like that photo too, it really reminds me of the joy I feel of having a kitchen garden.
I've never grown borage and I'm not sure if it is grown easily here. I'm going to investigate and perhaps try it next year.
Though mine disappeared this year, I love borage, Tyra. The flowers (as shown in your stunning photo) are beautiful floating in summer soups :)
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