Borago (cucumber herb)

Borago, or the second name of the plant - cucumber grass - is a beautiful culture with interesting flowers and belonging to the Burachnikov family.

In general, the whole genus has only 5 species. However, only one of them is popular among flower growers, which is called borage. This plant is a herbaceous annual. In the wild, the culture grows in Asia Minor in Europe, as well as in Siberia. Then people became aware that cucumber grass has pollen - pollen, and also light honey is obtained from it. In addition, there is information that the processed greens of the culture were used to dye woolen fabrics in blue. Cucumber herb got this name because of its characteristic cucumber smell.

Borago description

In general, this herb is a medicinal plant. The height of its stem reaches half a meter, and in some cases even one meter. The root system is pivotal. The stem is empty inside, in the upper part it diverges into several processes. The leaf plates are elliptical, the lower ones can stand out with a slightly convex top. The upper leaf plates are slightly different from the lower ones, having an ovoid shape. The entire surface of the leaves is covered with hairs of light color, which sells roughness to the leaves. The inflorescence has a bright dark blue color, which is also covered with bristles over the entire surface. Pedicels are long. At the end of flowering, a fruit is formed that resembles an elongated oval nut, about 5 mm in length. Seeds are formed inside the fruit, which crumble after the fruit bursts. These seeds can be harvested and used for several years.

Borago landing

The plant is very easy to grow, which even beginners can do. The grass grows well and grows very quickly, besides, it tolerates winter well and can reproduce on its own, therefore, by planting borago on your site, you can risk that the plant will flood it like a weed. The right time for sowing is early spring or late autumn. Everything here will depend on the purpose of growing. If the goal is not a medicinal herb, but the cultivation and use of herbs, then you can sow this herb periodically throughout the summer, for example, once every 2 weeks. Suitable soil will be light, loose, fertile soil, which should always be moist. The reaction should be neutral.

Before sowing borage, it is necessary to prepare the place: remove debris and all weeds, as well as dig up the area, apply organic fertilizers and add organic matter, at the rate of about 6 kg per square meter. The seeds are buried deep enough, by about 2 cm, while maintaining a distance between the rows of about 40 cm.After the appearance of the first shoots, it is necessary to thin out in order to increase the distance between the bushes to about 15 cm.

Borago care

Once the sowing is complete, leaving here will be very easy. It consists only in regular watering in hot summer conditions and in the absence of precipitation, and it is also necessary to weed and loosen the soil in the aisles on time. If you are growing crops for ornamental purposes, you need to achieve a long flowering period and good quality of the flowers themselves. To do this, those stems that have faded should be cut off, and also cut off flowers that have withered.

If your soil has a nutrient deficiency on your site, then you need to feed it with a solution of a ready-made mineral fertilizer complex. The growing season lasts approximately 2 months.

Collection and storage of raw materials

As mentioned above, borago has medicinal properties. They are possessed by both flowers, the grass itself, and the seeds of the plant. Leaves should be cut while the crop is in bloom. After that, they are cut into narrow strips and dried in one layer, distributing them evenly on a newspaper, on paper, on fabric. It is better to dry in a place protected from the sun, where air circulates well. You can also use an electric dryer. But in this case, you should not increase the temperature above 40 degrees.

Flowers, which were also plucked for medicinal purposes, must be mixed with honey, or you can add sweet syrup. All this is stored in the refrigerator, you can dry flowers in a similar way to drying foliage.

If you need seeds, then they need to be harvested after the fruits are ripe and brown. They are also evenly distributed in a single layer and dried in a ventilated place protected from the sun. After the fruits have dried, they will need to be threshed. Dry parts of the plant are stored in a dry and cool place to preserve the maximum amount of medicinal properties that will persist for another year.

Borago views

• Most often, gardeners plant the following types of cucumber grass: Vladykinskoye Semko. The plant is characterized by large oval-shaped leaves and a very thick layer of villi. The inflorescences here will have a blue tint, as well as a very pronounced smell of fresh cucumber.
• Dwarf. This type of plant has good resistance to frost, and is also characterized by a branched stem. In addition, the flowers will have a bright, pronounced aroma.
• In addition to the above varieties, gardeners love to grow the April variety, borago Brook and Okroshka.
• And for decorative purposes, two types of cucumber grass are planted, which are distinguished by the beauty of the inflorescences. This is the Alba variety. The flowers in this case will be white and the Variegata variety, which has bright variegated leaves.

Scope and contraindications

Borago is known for its medicinal properties and has long been used for healing purposes. For some time now, the leaves of the herb have been used to treat diseases such as articular arthritis, gout, for certain skin diseases and are used in the presence of any metabolic disorders in the body. The plant contains such useful substances as vitamin C, carotene, some useful acids, potassium, calcium and other substances.

Also, greens are characterized and used as an enveloping agent, laxative, diaphoretic, and also a sedative. The use of medications made on the basis of cucumber herb has a beneficial effect on metabolic disorders, in case of instability of the nervous system, also to increase immunity and improve a positive emotional background. In addition, the plant is effective for stomach ailments. The hormones that are part of the culture have a positive effect on the function of the adrenal glands, therefore they are prescribed after steroid therapy.

Borage oil promotes rapid tissue regeneration. It is also used for cosmetic purposes, when treating the skin of the face, as a moisturizer. Often, borage herb oil is added as an ingredient in anti-aging creams, as well as moisturizers and products that keep the skin firm and youthful. Cucumber herb is also included in the composition of products that fight cellulite and are used to treat stretch marks. They use not only preparations made on the basis of borago, but also take infusions and decoctions of the collected raw materials.

In addition to medicinal and cosmetic purposes, this plant is eaten, the product is especially popular in the USA. People add cucumber herb to salads, the flowers of the plant are used for food, which fill the dish with a bright, fresh aroma, and greens are also used to make various smoothies and drinks. Candied flowers are used as sweets, and dried inflorescences are added to baked goods and confectionery.

Like any herbal preparations, borago preparations should be used with caution, not exceeding the course of treatment for more than one month, since their use can negatively affect the liver. It is contraindicated to use these funds for people who are allergic to specific components, as well as for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Conclusion

Borago is a very useful plant that performs not only a decorative function on the site, but is also actively used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. When cooked properly, cucumber herb can be added to a variety of dishes for a fresher and richer flavor.

Cucumber herb can be grown even by inexperienced gardeners, as it takes root well and has great vigor. In addition, the culture is completely undemanding to care for.