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When to Plant Borage in Dunn County, ND

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.

Dunn County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 132 days.

At an elevation of 944 feet, Dunn County receives approximately 22.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 80ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Borage to ensure they mature before fall.

Dunn County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
132 days
Last Spring Frost May 14
132 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23

Dunn County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (34 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Aug 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (34 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: May 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Sep 5

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
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Borage needs ~550 GDD — county provides 1,320 GDD Excellent fit

Borage Planting Timeline โ€” Dunn County, ND

Borage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 โ€“ May 21
Direct Sow May 7 May 7 โ€“ May 28
Fall Sowing July 1 Jul 1 โ€“ Jul 15
Harvest July 2 Jul 2 โ€“ Aug 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
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 4a

Growing Season

132 days

Growing Tips for Dunn 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 Dunn County, ND?

Dunn County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 14. Plan your Borage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dunn County, ND?

Dunn County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and first fall frost is September 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Dunn County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Dunn County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.