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When to Plant Borage in Crawford County, PA

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.

Crawford County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 179 days.

At an elevation of 336 feet, Crawford County receives approximately 39.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Borage to ensure they mature before fall.

Crawford County, PA (Zone 5b) Moderate season
179 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
179 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Crawford County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (77 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Aug 26

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
Borage needs ~674 GDD — county provides 2,192 GDD Excellent fit

Borage Planting Timeline โ€” Crawford County, PA

Borage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 9
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 7
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ May 7
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 โ€“ Aug 31
Harvest June 18 Jun 18 โ€“ Aug 6

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 5b

Growing Season

179 days

Growing Tips for Crawford 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 Crawford County, PA?

Crawford County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Borage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Crawford County, PA?

Crawford County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 26.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Crawford County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Crawford County, PA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.