When to Plant Borage in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Borage guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Apr to Aug
- 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 Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- 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 Tropical 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
Tropical Growing Tips for Borage
Recommended Varieties
- Standard Borago officinalis
Key Challenges
- Humidity causes mildew
- Heat above 35C shortens lifespan
Pro Tips
- Treat as cool-season annual
- Sow in May for best results
- Afternoon shade helps
Pests and problems for Borage in Tropical
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 Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Borage in Cairns?
Sow direct in the dry season; the taproot resents moving. It struggles in wet-season humidity.
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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.