Can You Grow Borage in Zone 5b?
Quick Answer:
✅ Yes — Borage grows easily anywhere in your zone — direct sow and let it self-seed for years of free plants.
✅ Yes
Borage grows well in Zone 5b
Borage grows easily anywhere in your zone — direct sow and let it self-seed for years of free plants.
📅 When to Plant in Zone 5b
Direct Sow
Apr 7
Last Sow Date
Aug 23
🌾 Harvest
May 27 – Jun 6
Based on Zone 5b's average last frost of early April and first frost of late October.
🌱 Growing Borage in Zone 5b
Direct sow after last frost — hates transplanting. Self-seeds so aggressively you plant it once and it returns every year. Great companion plant for tomatoes and strawberries. Harvest flowers daily to encourage more blooms.
🪴 Container: 3+ gal pot❄️ Frost Tolerant
🗺️ USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
Zone 5 is shown in
this colour
on the map below
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — public domain. USDA Agricultural Research Service
USDA zones run 1a–13b (26 half-zones). Each full zone above covers both the a and b half-zones. Browse all US zones →
Technical climate details for Zone 5b
- USDA Zone
- 5b
- Last Frost
- early April
- First Frost
- late October
- Frost-Free Days
- 197
- Borage Zone Range
- 2a – 11b
- Days to Harvest
- 50–60 days
Frequently Asked Questions
Borage grows easily anywhere in your zone — direct sow and let it self-seed for years of free plants.
Zone 5b is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b with approximately 197 frost-free days per year.
Borage grows in USDA Zones 2a–11b.
Borage is beginner-friendly and one of the easier crops to grow.