what is your opinion on Borage?

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youngman Beverly Hills, CA Aug 25, 2008

I found this thing randomly online today. From what i read, i can eat the flowers and leaves, and they taste like cucumber. but this thing actually grows wild in nature, and once it is planted, it will spread.

So I don't know if I should try it or not. if it tastes good, i can always eat them as much as they can produce, but it would hard to get rid of if it doesn't taste so good.

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youngman Beverly Hills, CA Aug 26, 2008

In case anyone is reading this, I just found out online that this plant leaves have some alkaloids that are toxic to the liver.

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Smokey_SC Piedmont, SC(Zone 7b) Aug 26, 2008

Better stay away from that stuff.

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pastime Waterman, IL(Zone 5a) Aug 27, 2008

I planted that stuff one year. It was really pretty at first, with it's purple flowers, but then it turned ugly and full of bugs. I ripped it out.

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philotea Philadelphia, PA Aug 27, 2008

Borage is an herb, so it needs good drainage and it will bolt if you don't keep it pinched back (like basil and mint). The whole plant smells a bit like cucumber, but I believe only the flowers are safe to eat (in moderation, of course!). When yours "turned ugly" it was probably bolting - which is good if you want to collect the seeds for the next crop. Healthy plants usually don't get "full of bugs" - my first guess is that your borage was getting root rot from poor drainage, getting too hot in midsummer, or somthing similar.

Your best bet is to try growing one or two plants in pots to see whether they will work out for you.

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grannymarsh Marquette, MI(Zone 5a) Aug 28, 2008

One can cut it waaay back and it will come back fresh and pretty.

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