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When to Plant Borage in Johnson County, WY

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.

Johnson County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 127 days.

At an elevation of 8,281 feet, Johnson County receives approximately 23.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Borage to ensure they mature before fall.

Johnson County, WY (Zone 4a) Short season
127 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
127 growing days
First Fall Frost September 21

Johnson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (26 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (29 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (24 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 26 Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Sep 13

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 ~591 GDD — county provides 1,365 GDD Excellent fit

Borage Planting Timeline โ€” Johnson County, WY

Borage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 โ€“ Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 24
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 31
Fall Sowing June 29 Jun 29 โ€“ Jul 13
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Aug 23

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 Fall Sowing
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

127 days

Growing Tips for Johnson 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 Johnson County, WY?

Johnson County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Borage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Johnson County, WY?

Johnson County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Johnson 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 Johnson County, WY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.