When to Plant Borage in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
That soil figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 21:55 yesterday, not a model.
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Borage guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to Jun, Aug to Nov
- Days to harvest
- 56 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
A hardy annual herb with stunning blue star-shaped flowers and cucumber-flavoured leaves. Excellent companion plant and pollinator attractor. Self-sows prolifically once established.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar S/D
- Apr S/T/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun T/D
- Jul -
- Aug S/D
- Sep S/T/D
- Oct T/D
- Nov D
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Borage in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Any well-drained soil, even poor soils. Tolerant of a wide range of conditions.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade. Flowers best in full sun.
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 45cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate watering. Drought tolerant once established. Overwatering causes lanky, floppy growth.
- Good companions
- Strawberry (attracts pollinators, improves flavour, traditional companion), Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Summer squash
Subtropical Growing Tips for Borage
Recommended Varieties
- Standard Borago officinalis
Key Challenges
- Summer heat causes rapid bolting and decline
- Self-sows so prolifically it can become weedy
Pro Tips
- Autumn sowing produces strongest plants
- Pull self-sown seedlings you don't want early
- Excellent companion for strawberries
Pests and problems for Borage in Subtropical
- Aphids and Whitefly Low
- Powdery Mildew Space plants well. Avoid overhead watering. Accept that late-season mildew is cosmetic and the plant is finishing anyway. Watch
Organic prevention (Aphids): Borage is more often a pest SOLUTION than a pest problem. It attracts hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control aphids on nearby crops.
Harvesting Borage
When ready: Harvest young leaves before flowering for best flavour. Pick flowers when fully open. They should pop off easily.
How to harvest: Pick young tender leaves from top of plant. Pluck individual flowers by pinching stem behind flower. Older leaves become hairy and unpalatable.
Storing and preserving borage
How to keep it
- Flower ice cubes. Place individual flowers face-down in ice cube tray compartments. Fill with water or lemonade. Freeze. Stunning in drinks. Keeps: 3 months frozen.
- Candied flowers. Paint flowers with lightly beaten egg white using fine brush. Dust with caster sugar. Dry on rack for 24 hours. Keeps: 2-3 months in airtight container.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Borage
When do you plant borage in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Jun, Aug to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Apr, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
Can you grow borage all year round in Brisbane?
No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Mar to Jun, Aug to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Borage in Brisbane?
Sow from March to June and August to November. It grows well through the mild winter, so avoid sowing in midsummer heat.
What soil temperature do Borage need?
Borage germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Borage are ready to harvest?
Harvest young leaves before flowering for best flavour. Pick flowers when fully open. They should pop off easily.
What are the best Borage varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Standard Borago officinalis.
What grows well with Borage?
Good companion plants for Borage include: Strawberry, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Summer squash.
Are borage salt tolerant?
Only a little. Borage are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.