Borage 'Common Blue'

Borage, or cucumber herb, is a wonderfully fresh herb that is excellent as a microgreen (harvesting the cotyledon leaves); its crispness and fresh cucumber flavor are already fully present in all their subtle nuances.
If we let the plants grow, they develop succulent, hairy leaves and beautiful sky-blue flowers, both of which are also edible: the leaves in salads and the flowers as a garnish "on top"! The fresh taste of cucumbers also dominates here.
The flowers attract plenty of insects, including bees and hoverflies. Height 30-60 cm depending on soil type and spacing. 100 g for 20 m² (when sown in the open ground) or for approximately 600 pots of 9 cm. In Germany, the green herb sauce (made from 7 herbs) is very popular. Borage is a part of this purée. Research has shown that such a rather extensive consumption of Borage is not good for your liver. The toxic Pyridine alkaloids that Borage contains are not healthy in larger quantities (Dr. Till Beuerle, Braunschweig). This sauce is not part of Dutch customs; a little as a flavoring in salads is harmless and can even be called healthy. Alkaloids are even widely used in medicines in low doses... For many things, the rule applies: everything in moderation and variety!

The beautiful blue or white flowers, like the leaves, are edible in salads. The taste and smell are that of cucumbers.

Names:
Latin: Borago officinalis
Dutch: Komkommerkruid
Also known as: Blauw Komkommerkruid
English: Borage