My borage leaves struggle

9 years ago

Hi, I am in central texas trying to grow borage because I want to help the bees. The leaves (starting from the oldest) keep turning yellow and then brown and then dying. I had been having problems with aphids but have since gotten rid of the aphids via marigolds and ladybugs. I am still having this problem.

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Common Cents

9 years ago

Your first picture looks pretty normal for a pot that size.

Borage is a big plant that grows a deep tap root. When it's grown in containers, it bolts (blossoms and seeds) when the tap root hits a hard barrier like the bottom of the pot. It will die like it's root bound.

It thrives in the ground around here, and reseeds itself for the next year. I tried some in large containers (16 inch and 20 inch planter pots) last year, as a single companion plant to a tomato plant. Borage grew faster and bolted much quicker than cilantro, even in a pot that is 20 inches deep.

I've seen reports online that growing it in permeable containers works better. When the tap root penetrates the bottom, it "air prunes" itself, and the plant reportedly doesn't die, but it doesn't grow as big either. I've never tried that, but I've read it online several places.

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Comments (7)

gvozdika
9 years ago
It looks like nutrient deficiency. Borage is a big plant, those pots look too small. You can replant them and give them some fertilizer.
angie cis thanked gvozdika
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
Can you grow them in the ground? They are big sprawling things and I agree they look starved in those pots. Since they are flowering you could place the pots somewhere with cultivated soil, leave the plants to set seed and they might find a place they are happy by themselves.
angie cis thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
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angie cis
Original Author
9 years ago
I am currently in college and I am renting this house so I have no way to pot them in the ground. I will buy bigger pots for them soon! Thank you all so much, I just love the idea of borage and I want it to do well.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
If I had little time and little space I wouldn't bother with Borage at all. Its uses are limited compared to things like Basil, Mint, Parsley, Thyme, Sage etc. You say you love the idea of Borage but what are you using it for? The only culinary use I know of is for the flowers, as decoration in salads and cold drinks. Nothing like as useful as the other tasty herbs.
Catherine Powell
9 years ago
My borage are in the ground and suffer from similar problems. It looks like it has some kind of rust disease. They grew up, developed flowers and then the stems eventually turned black and they died. Let me know if you come up with any remedies. Thanks. The burpee website has info on borage with different problems it might have. You might check it out. I just hope that they will still reseed for next year.
Leslie Wick
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Some fantastic recipes to cook Borage leaves as individual crispy, leaf fritters can be found on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV156_9tqDw.

It seems that Northern areas of Spain, Aragon and from the Valencian area, call these 'crespells'.

Also, it seems that another cook, lasrecetasfaciledemaria.com, makes a beautiful 'Borraja a la Riojana', her own adapted recipe with potatoes and olive oil and its one of her granddaughter's favourite dishes. These 2 recipes look great.

Hank Shaw also (from honest-food.net) suggests a delicious chimichurri recipe for the leaves to accompany fish, an Argentinian recipe, I think.