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When to Plant Borage in Baxter County, AR

Borage is a self-seeding annual herb with star-shaped blue flowers that attract pollinators. Its leaves have a cucumber-like flavor and the flowers are edible.

Baxter County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 208 days.

At an elevation of 587 feet, Baxter County receives approximately 45.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Borage during the growing season.

Baxter County, AR (Zone 6b) Long season
208 days
Last Spring Frost April 2
208 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Baxter County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 20 Transplant: Mar 20 🍅 Harvest: May 15 – Jul 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (110 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jul 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (108 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Jul 28

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Borage needs ~880 GDD — county provides 3,328 GDD Excellent fit

Borage Planting Timeline โ€” Baxter County, AR

Borage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 26 Feb 26 โ€“ Mar 12
Transplant Outdoors March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 9
Direct Sow March 19 Mar 19 โ€“ Apr 9
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1
Harvest May 21 May 21 โ€“ Jul 9

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

Days to Maturity

50โ€“60 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6b

Growing Season

208 days

Growing Tips for Baxter County

Direct sow in spring as borage does not transplant well. Allow some plants to go to seed for next year. Young leaves are best; older leaves become bristly.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Borage in Baxter County, AR?

Baxter County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 2. Plan your Borage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Baxter County, AR?

Baxter County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 2 and first fall frost is October 27.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Baxter County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Baxter County, AR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.