On the lottie borage has self seeded with the brassicas, i have left the borage to grow. at home the brasicas are continually needing decaterpillaring and no rogue borage is in sight. i shall try the companion planting of borage and brassicas again as i assume that the borage has confused the butterflies or that due to the no of insects it attracts that they have eaten any caterpillars.
Hello fi,
I haven't used borage as pest control, but put some tomatillo plants in where the borage would self seed to encourage pollination, having heard that you need multiple plants to get the fruit (I only had 2 plants) and, of course, bees etc crowd to the borage.
This has worked admirably, but my experience has been that the borage can crowd out the target plants a bit, which they also did with some broad beans earlier in the year - mind you, I am talking chaotic garden border, rather than allotment! Next year will be a slightly more restrained insect paradise, I think! :)
Best regards,
Sue
We started with just 2 borage plants last year and now it is everywhere. Shall just let a few grow as they smother everything else, but they are so pretty
and they're great for the compost heap, all those big leaves ;D
yes I've got a few that have self seeded - the bees love them so I leave a few around. I hadn't heard about the companion planting you mentioned Fi - be interesting to see if it works next year!
1066 :)
Well there is actual benefit with borage..
Scientist are researching a way of controlling caterpillar pests with bees/ wasps and if there is way of producing commercial imitation control based on these insects.
What they have found, is that the 'buzz' caused by the wings of the bees/wasps will give vibration that causes caterpillars to drop off from the plants...they are protecting themselves from the attack of the predatory wasps.
Once the caterpillars are on ground they are vulnerable for beetles, birds etc. and climbing back on the host plant will take time or is difficult.
Now...borage is like 'magnet' for a bees.....and all that extra 'buzz' going on..the caterpillars should be dropping off like rain.. ;)
I've got borage growing 'wild' amongst the various crops and they are doing good job...
I let borage grow almost everywhere, only pulling up those plants that are really in the way. They have been mainly amongst the tomatoes this year and both tomatoes and borage seem to have grown very well.
The bees love it and then like manics I put the plants in the compost bin.
..I'm not even bothering clearing them away..bit of frost and they soon perish.. ;D And as Tin Shed I too only clear away self seeded ones if they are growing in wrong place or compete with other plants...I do same with poppies..I've got such a buzz everywhere during summer.
Some chaps have complained to me that they haven't got enough bees to pollinate their crops... :o They are feeding on mine ;D ;D Now wonder it is quiet on theirs as they do not leave any flowers to grow..everything have to be weedless and pristine soil... ::)
Borage is rampant on my plot, but I love it, so just pull it up if it's in the way. I may try to control it a bit by cutting off the flowers before they seed, but I love the flowers so much that I probably won't be able to do it! :D
borage ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I will try the cabbage idea next year sounds interesting....
I've used it as a green manure, smothers weeds, attracts insects.....free :)
the leaves taste like cucumber and I'm sure I've read somewhere it has anti cancer properties , flowers are sweet, too ;D
The flowers are essential in a decent Pimms, so start mixing before the sun goes down for the winter!!!
I was told to freeze the flowers in ice cubes to put in drinks, haven't got around to it yet :)
Quote from: Pescador on September 09, 2010, 20:14:29
The flowers are essential in a decent Pimms, so start mixing before the sun goes down for the winter!!!
message received and understood ;D ;D ;D to heck with the bees that I saw yesterday enjoying the borage, what about my rights to a proper G&T ;D
borage sounds like the companion plant with so many uses, added to alcohol sound particularly good. very interesting about the 'buzz' theory and makes sense, the borage always has bees and wasps around it.
i have another use for borage , a recipe for making borage pasta (using the leaves) bought the flour but haven't got around to making it.
The root system is the only downside - they get everywhere and even if the frost killsthe top growth they still rise up like Lazarus in Spring.