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When to Plant Borage in Henderson County, KY

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.

Henderson County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 209 days.

At an elevation of 3,992 feet, Henderson County receives approximately 47.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Borage during the growing season.

Henderson County, KY (Zone 6b) Long season
209 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
209 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Henderson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Borage

Borage needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Borage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 4.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.3" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 3.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Henderson County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Borage Planting Timeline โ€” Henderson County, KY

Borage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 โ€“ Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 12
Direct Sow March 22 Mar 22 โ€“ Apr 12
Harvest May 24 May 24 โ€“ Jul 12
Fall Sowing August 22 Aug 22 โ€“ Sep 5

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
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

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

209 days in Henderson County

Growing Tips for Henderson 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Borage in Henderson County, KY?

Henderson County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Borage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Henderson County, KY?

Henderson County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 31.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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