Borage (Borago officinalis) is an easy to grow annual herb prized for its edible flowers and leaves. The vivid blue star-shaped flowers have a mild cucumber flavor and make a beautiful garnish for salads, cocktails, and more. The leaves also have a faint cucumber taste and can be used fresh in salads or dried for tea.
Borage is great for cooking, but it’s also a great plant for the garden because it attracts bees and other pollinators. It can also be used as a companion plant to keep cabbage worms and tomato hornworms away.
Once borage completes its growing cycle, it produces small dark seeds that can be collected and saved for planting the following year. Here is a complete guide on how to successfully harvest and store borage seeds from your garden.
When to Harvest Borage Seeds
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Borage seeds are ready for harvest when the flowers fade and the green seed pods swell and turn brown. This usually occurs mid to late summer.
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Check the plants daily once flowering starts to slow down. Open the seed pods slowly to see if the seeds inside have turned dark brown or black and are easy to remove.
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Mature seeds will easily fall out of the pods, but immature seeds will stick. Only pick dark mature seeds.
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Seeds won’t all grow up at once; they’ll take a few weeks. Make frequent checks to catch seeds at peak maturity.
How to Harvest Borage Seeds
There are three main methods for collecting borage seeds:
1. Collect Seeds from Pods
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Use your fingers to gently pry open the seed pods once they turn brown and start to dry.
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Carefully roll or shake the seeds out into a container. Avoid crushing the pods.
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Check plants daily and harvest seeds as pods mature. Don’t wait too long or seeds may fall to the ground.
2. Gather Fallen Seeds
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Mature seeds drop quickly from the pods and fall to the ground below.
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Place a tray, piece of cardboard, or cloth underneath plants to catch fallen seeds. Check frequently.
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Look around the base of plants for dropped seeds and sweep up to collect.
3. Cut Stems and Remove Seeds
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When plants start to decline, cut back flower stems bearing seed pods.
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Lay stems on a sheet or tray and detach pods, rolling seeds out. Discard pods.
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This pruning also tidies up plants at end of season.
How to Dry and Store Borage Seeds
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Spread seeds in a single layer on paper towels or screens and allow to dry for 1-2 weeks.
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Once thoroughly dry, place seeds in paper envelopes or glass jars labeled with variety and date.
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Store in a cool, dry location away from direct light. Properly stored, seeds remain viable for 2-3 years.
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Discard any seeds that appear moldy, shriveled, or damaged before storage. Only save plump, healthy seeds.
Tips for Successful Borage Seed Saving
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Grow only one borage variety to prevent cross-pollination and hybrid seeds.
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Let a few plants go to seed while harvesting others for culinary use.
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Isolate borage varieties by at least 50 feet to avoid cross-pollination between plants.
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Cut back flowering stems before seeds form every few weeks to extend the harvesting period.
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Seeds fall quickly once mature. Check pods twice daily to maximize your seed harvest.
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Expect low yields of seeds from individual plants. A 10-20 plant borage patch will give enough seeds for replanting.
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Store seeds properly in a cool, dry location to maintain viability. Discard any non-viable seeds.
Saving borage seeds is easy and rewarding. A small investment of time yields a future free supply of seeds for new plants, allowing you to continue growing this multifunctional herb in your garden for years to come.
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