Borage

I planted Borage a few years ago and plant on spreading some seeds out this year. Have you ever eaten the flowers? They taste just like candy!

I planted white borage and the description says the flowers are supposed to taste like cucumbers and can be used in salads. I've never grown them before but I thought they looked nice. I'd like to get the blue flowered borage. I didn't realize mine were white until I got the seed packet. What color are yours?
-Juli

I've never grown the white ones. The leaves are supposes to taste like cucumbers. The flowers are often candied. But I've eaten them right of the plant and they are so sweet. Try yours, you can eat the flowers as well. I am curious to see if the white flowers are sugar sweet as well. I didn't really care for the leaves, too prickly. Although you are supposed to blanch the leaves first.
I've read about borage flowers tasting like cumcumber but I wonder if those writers actually tasted them becasue they are sweet like sugar.

I hope my borage seeds grow so I can see what they taste like.

Now I am curious, the flowers tasted sweet to me. When you get to try yours let me know what you find!

Okay, here's the only link that says something about sweet tasting blue borage flowers
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read,2005,1201.html

Thanks for the link, Mobi.

Thanks to all - now I have to buy a new one and try it.

Borage plants, along with mints and nasturtiums, are kind of a pest in my community garden. It is also hard to tell the small plants from some of the weeds.

I keep trying the flowers, and not tasting much of anything. Maybe it has grown wild for so long it no longer has flavor?

I've noticed some of them this spring have even lost their star shaped flowers and instead have flowers shaped like Cerinthe major. Weird.

Hi Everyone
I am lucky enough to have a farmers market once a week in my neighborhood. I always buy two bags of organic mixed greens with flower petals. The Borage are a little furry and very beautiful and mild tasting. I see calendula,nasturtium and some there beauties in there !
Is it possible that the mints mutate rapidly? I notice my mint has changed or something new has introduced itself.
A.

If I don't let my mints flower then they will not cross, is that correct?
-Juli

I guess it is an invasion then ..I have a very bright mint and the new mint is pale and fuzzy..less minty..someone suggested it is a native mint..dunno..i decided 10 years ago to let mint be my prevalent weed and it has worked really nicely. It is easy to pull out and trim back,which we do daily,so we and the yard are always smelling minty. I have many, many,less weeds and lots of nice mint in my compost.Oddly Juli,mine never flowers! Guess we make too much tea and mint sauce to allow it ! Eje..I don't fight those weeds ..I join em..lots of nasturtiums and mints in my yard and salad.
PS Hi pirl!
A

Seeing as how my borage is blooming right now... I'll be performing a little experiment today at lunch time!

Borage flowers are beautiful on top of a cake or cupcakes!

Barb

ok Dogzilla what's the verdict?
-Juli

Do they taste like cucumber or are they sweet?

Yummy! Tasty! Sweet!

I just pinched a flower off the plant and popped it into my mouth. Definitely a sweet thing, with barely a hint of cucumber flavor. I would use the flowers in desserts and the leaves in salads.

I had borage once, loved it. Great bee atractant, leaves tasted like cukes, flowers sweet. Haven't been able to find a new one.....my dad "weeded" it out years ago.

-Lu