Borage (Borago officinalis L.) – an annual herbaceous plant up to 50 cm high, valued as both a vegetable and a medicinal remedy. Seeds are sown in open ground after the threat of frost has passed, usually in late March–April, at a depth of 1.5–2 cm, with a distance between plants of 10–20 cm and rows of 30–45 cm. The plant prefers non-acidic fertile soils, loose structure, and sunny areas, but can also grow in shaded places. Regular watering ensures good development, while moderate drought resistance allows cultivation even with limited water access.
Borage leaves are large, aromatic, and smell like fresh cucumbers, making them popular in cooking. They are used in salads, side dishes for meat and fish, and for preparing drinks. Flowers are bright blue, large, bloom 40–50 days after sowing, and flower from early July to autumn, providing high nectar productivity: one hectare can yield more than 160 kg of sugar or 200 kg of honey. Flowers attract bees, making borage a valuable source of nectar and honey.
In folk medicine, leaves and flowers are used for rheumatism, heart weakness, neuroses, as a calming agent, mild laxative, and expectorant. They contain ascorbic acid, carotene, sugars, potassium salts, and other beneficial substances. Seeds maintain viability for 2–3 years; the plant easily reproduces via self-seeding, allowing it to be grown in one place repeatedly.
To obtain early greens, sowings are conducted in several stages: leaves are harvested before the flowering stem appears, 15–25 days after germination. If necessary, greenhouses or film coverings can be used to accelerate growth. Plant care includes watering, loosening inter-row spaces, weeding, and fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers in spring.
Thus, borage is a versatile plant that combines culinary, nectar-producing, and medicinal properties, is easily grown on various soils and climatic conditions, and attracts bees, contributing to the biodiversity of the site.
