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When to Plant Borage in Noble County, OH

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.

Noble County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 1,125 feet, Noble County receives approximately 33.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Borage during the growing season.

Noble County, OH (Zone 6a) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 27
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Noble County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Jul 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (73 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Aug 21

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
0.8″/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 ~839 GDD — county provides 2,684 GDD Excellent fit

Borage Planting Timeline โ€” Noble County, OH

Borage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 23 Mar 23 โ€“ Apr 6
Transplant Outdoors April 20 Apr 20 โ€“ May 4
Direct Sow April 13 Apr 13 โ€“ May 4
Fall Sowing August 11 Aug 11 โ€“ Aug 25
Harvest June 15 Jun 15 โ€“ Aug 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing 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 6a

Growing Season

176 days

Growing Tips for Noble 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 Noble County, OH?

Noble County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 27. Plan your Borage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Noble County, OH?

Noble County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 27 and first fall frost is October 20.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Noble County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Noble County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.