Harvesting Borage Seeds
Why pay every year for a new plant (and create the plastic waste that comes with it) when you can harvest seeds from this year's plants and grow your own from seed next year!
So for those of you who don't know- this is borage. Bees love it, its pretty and super fast growing!
So once the plant is flowering, keep an eye out for seeds. If you just open up what used to be the flower head after the petals have dried and fallen off, this is where the seeds are. The seeds in this photo are not ready to be harvested! If they're green they're not dry and they're no good yet.
That's more like it! These seeds have developed and dried and are ready to be harvested. Simply knock them off the plant with your finger into your hand or a pot. It's probably worth mentioning as well that it's definitely a good idea to look on the ground if you find any flower head which are empty. This is because the plant has probably already dropped these seeds. See next photo for a better idea of what they look like once harvested.
Voila! A lovely handful of borage seeds ready to be stored for next year! They are relatively large seeds which are dark brown or black and have a white tip at one end.
It's definitely a good idea to clearly label your seeds because no matter how sure you are at the time that you'll 'definitely remember the small brown envelope was borage seeds' - you won't!
For more gardening hacks,cleaning hacks and general eco tips, please follow @plastic_what_you_preach on instagram.
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I collect seeds and am always positive I will remember! But sometimes in the spring I wonder...what is this seed?!? I like your little brown envelopes. Those are perfect for seed collecting!
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This is such a great post, thank you!!
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Thanks wendy! Sorry for delayed reply I've only just spotted this comment.x
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