Borago cucumber grass, landing and care. How to grow cucumber grass Barago

If you dream to turn the grown on your site not only decorative plants, but also medicinal, then take on the notes of the Borago plant. The second name of this plant is a cucumber grass. Young leaflets of Borago will smell with fresh cucumber. On the healing properties of cucumber grass they knew even during the Middle Ages. The knights had a tradition to go out on the battlefield only after the Cup with a tea from Borago. They also decorated their armor with this plant, believing that it would bring good luck. The charming one-hour Borago will become a real natural storage room, which is full of useful properties.

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Borago cucumber grass. Plant Description

Borago is often called cucumber grass, cucumber, burachnik.
Borago plant refers to the bouquet family.
The birthplace of cucumber grass is considered to be Syria. The plant is widespread as weed in the countries of North Africa, Malaya Asia, Southern Europe, in South America.
Borago is a grassy annual plant that can reach 1 m in height.
Stem cucumber grass branched and straight. A feature of this plant is the presence of harsh "hairs", which cover almost the entire plant.
Root rod cucumber grass system with numerous side roots.
The leaves in cucumber grass differ slightly in shape depending on where they are located. Burnt leaves have an oval shape, the leaves on the top - a more stupid shape, the leaves on the stem - egg-shaped and more elongated. The leaves are covered with exactly such rigid "hairs", like the stem.
Cucumber grass flowers painted in beautiful blue color with pink tint. They are collected in the thyroid-blurred inflorescences at the top of the stem. The flower itself consists of 5 cups.
The fruit of Borago is a ribbed hack of a brown shade. It contains about 1000 small seeds that are trembling on the ground after the fetal ripening.
The active phase of the blossom of cucumber grass falls on the summer season - from June to August.

Borago cucumber grass. Historical information

Despite the fact that today many underestimate the cucumber grass, considering it weed, in the ancient descriptions you can meet many references to its beneficial properties and methods of application.

In ancient Rome of cucumber grass, a special meaning was attached. Warriors took this plant with themselves in order to raise the power of the Spirit and courage.
Grass Borago Ancient Lekari called "the joy of the heart" because of her surprisingly healing effects on the cardiovascular and nervous system.
In France, the cucumber grass was also called a "heart flower", which was considered a powerful sedative.
Also in France, it was customary to use cucumber grass flowers to aromatize wines, vinegar, for decoration of dishes.
Motherland Borago consider Syria, from where the plant spread over Europe through the countries of the Mediterranean.
In Russia, Borago plant appeared only in the 19th century.

Borago - cucumber grass. Beneficial features

Cucumber grass has many beneficial properties due to its rich composition. Among the most valuable substances can be listed:

saponins;
tannins;
fatty acid;
mucous substances;
essential oil;
retinol;
vitamin C;
apple acid;
silicic acid;
lemon acid;
tanines;
phosphorus;
lithium;
calcium;
potassium.

As you can see, the chemical composition of the plant is impressive. It is possible to grow cucumber grass on the site not only in decorative purposes, but also for medicinal use. Among the beneficial properties of Borago, the following can be noted:

fatty acids in cucumber grass are able to have an active anti-inflammatory effect;
cucumber grass enriches the human body with omega-6 acids and other useful trace elements;
in traditional medicine, the beneficial effects of cucumber grass on the gastrointestinal tract of a person has long been known. Mucous substances that are in large amounts are contained in the plant, envelop the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines;
the cucumber grass is widely used and as a natural laxative and diuretic means of soft exposure;
decorations and teas from cucumber grass are widely used as sedatives. People who suffer from sleep violations, depressively states, nervousness can count on a wonderful effect of the adoption of folk remedies based on Borago;
decorations and infantry of cucumber grass will be useful to people who suffer from digestion disorders due to the high concentration of tanning substances;
due to the large concentration of saponins in the chemical composition, the cucumber grass has an expectorant effect;
people suffering from diabetes, obesity without fears can use Borago oil, which they are not contraindicated;
an excellent anti-inflammatory effect of Borago is complemented by light painkillers and the ability to remove the edema;
people who suffer from arterial hypertension, problems with vessels, can actively use the means of traditional medicine with cucumber grass in the composition;
cucumber grass is often used to treat colds as an anti-inflammatory agent;
a rampant is popular and in the treatment of various skin problems - neurodimer, allergic rashes;
cucumber grass has a powerful activating effect on metabolic processes in the body;
very often you can meet Borago in the recipes of traditional medicine for the treatment of gout.

Despite the fact that Borago is very valuable to health plant, it is worth using it with caution. Very rare this plant can cause an allergic reaction from the body. A long-term reception of this herb inside can provoke problems with the liver.

Application of Borago in Cooking

In some countries, the cucumber grass was originally grown exclusively in order to apply it to food. The young plant has a pleasant and fresh aroma of cucumber, and in taste it can resemble onions. Borago is used to prepare vegetable salads, cold summer soups.
Salads with young leaves of cucumber grass won the greatest popularity. The prerequisite must be that the leaves must be used by young. Later leaves also retain the flavor and taste, but become a little more rigid and covered with "hair".
The food also consumes the roots of cucumber grass collected in the fall. They give the unsurpassed aroma of wines, vinegar, cheeses, sour cream, syrups, etc.
Cucumber grass is often used as a spice. It is added to meat and fish dishes, soups.
Wonderful "companions" in a salad for Borago serve a white cabbage, celery, various types of lettuce.
Fresh leaves and stems of cucumber grass can be served as an independent side dish if we put them on a pan with a small amount of oil.
The hostess often use Borago to prepare summer home lemonade, drinks that are wonderfully quenching thirst in the heat.

Experienced hostesses will find a huge number of recipes with cucumber grass in the composition. Among the most popular dishes can be listed:

salad from Borago "Summer". Young leaflets of cucumber grass thoroughly rinse under running water, dry, cut or rush with hands on pieces. Serve on a table with refueling from olive oil, salt and black pepper. Salad will become an excellent addition to meat or fish dishes;
salad of cucumber grass "Spring". For the preparation of an extraordinarily useful and tasty salad you will need several tubers of the Topinambura, fresh carrots, cucumber grass. All components can be taken in the right ratio for you. Someone loves Topinambur more, and someone prefers salads with a large content of carrots. Ingredients need to be chopped on the grater, the leaves of Borago cut into a knife. Salad mix and fill in a small amount of oil, salt and pepper;
cucumber grass stew. Take a few young plants, rinse them well under running water, cut or navit on slices. The cucumber grass must first slightly fry on a small amount of oil, and then stew in salted water for a couple of minutes. The resulting stew wipe through the sieve and serve with a creamy sauce or a piece of butter;
candy flowers of cucumber grass. Their borago plants can be cooked an exotic dessert that you can surprise your guests and please close. To pour a sugar layer in the clay dishes, lay the flowers of Borago on top, and then fall asleep with sugar again. Stored in a dark
lemonade "Refreshing". To prepare a delicious and useful drink, you will need Borago leaves, lemon leaves, mint, half of the lemon. All ingredients mix in a blender, fill in several glasses of cold water. Perfoliate lemonade through fine sieve. To give a drink greater sweets, use maple syrup. Serve lemonade in high glasses with ice.

Application Borago in cosmetology

Grass Borago is widely used in cosmetology. This component can often be found in home recipes masks, tonic, creams, etc. What kind of valuable substance is contained in cucumber grass, which is often considered simple weed grass? It's all about the huge concentration of fatty acids:

linoleic acid;
gamma Linolenova;
alpha linolenic;
oleinic.

Find another such available source of saturated fatty acids is quite difficult. This feature of Borago grass makes it a versatile and the main component of the skin care. The following types of influence can have a cucumber grass on our skin:

moisturizing effect. Undoubted favor of Borago will have a dry and dehydrated skin;
smoothing effect. Funds with Borago Grago in the composition are able to align small irregularities on the skin, wrinkles, make skin color more homogeneous;
restoring effect. Cucumber grass has a healing and healing effect on the skin after cosmetology hardware procedures;
improving metabolic processes in the skin. The owner of oily and problem skin will immediately notice the elimination of oily shine, a decrease in acne, acne;
effect of lifting. Cucumber grass is known for its rejuvenating effect, making the skin of elasticity.

Natural oil Borago can be purchased in cosmetic stores or pharmacies. Like any oil, it should be sold in a dark glass bottle. The term of storage of such a product is short-to-2 months. Borago oil can be used to prepare the following cosmetic recipes:

healing oil to restore very dry skin. Mix the oils of chamomile, borago and cedar nut in equal proportions, slightly warm them and rub into the skin of the hands;
nourishing bath oil. You will need all the same components as in the previous recipe. But this time the oil needs to be not lying into the skin of the hands, but to immerse in his hands. Of course, oil proportions will need to increase;
rejuvenating oil compresses. In order to get an excellent lifting effect, mix in equal amounts of Borago, rosehip, jojoba. To the resulting mixture, also add a few drops of Ilang-Ilanga essential oils, lavender. The resulting mixture can be simply rubbed every night into the skin, and you can make compresses, fabric face masks.

Application of Borago in agriculture

Together with the decorative function of Borago and practical benefits:

sadniki-beekeepers will be drawn to the fact that after planting the cucumber grass, the number of bees has grown. This grass is a good honeymoon that attracts "attention" bees on a distant distance;
due to the fact that Borago grows on your site, you will notice the increase in the crop with fruit trees and shrubs. Cucumber grass helps in pollination by bees;
many daches enjoy cucumber grass to combat the Colorado Bucket - the famous pest of potatoes.

Borago - cucumber grass. Photo

Borago - cucumber grass. Landing and care

Choose a place to land Borago

The cucumber in the wild is growing near the rooks of the roads, on the vegetable garden, etc. If you want to achieve maximum decorativeness from this plant and apply it to food, then you should take care of choosing a place to land.

One of the best places to land Borago will be the place where potatoes, tomatoes or legumes grew.
Borago should not be grown on too sunny sites, let it be a place under the scattered crowns of trees, near buildings, fences, which will create a shadow. Growing Borago at home, it is possible and not to take care of the illumination. This plant adapts to an increase even in a constant shadow.
Cucumber grass is not demanding of the soil composition. But on fertile soils, it reaches excellent taste and good chemical composition for which it is so appreciated.
Choosing a place to land a cucumber grass, prepare for what you have to limit his growth. The plant is rapidly multiplied by self-sowing for the next year. So that the cucumber does not flood the neighboring space of other plants, remove the fetus with seeds until its ripening.

Cucumber grass - Borago. What variety is better

Of course, Borago can often be found in wildlife. But excellent taste and aroma, as well as a rich composition, only alignment varieties have. Borago, or cucumber grass, you can buy in almost any large store with seeds. For independent cultivation of cucumber grass in the open soil or at home, one of the following varieties are most often selected:

Vladykinskoe secoko;
April;
Okroshka;
Rod;
Dwarf.

The most cold-resistant is the "Gnome" variety, and the variety of Vladykinskoe Semyko is famous for large colors and leaves. It is he who chooses most gardeners for growing on the site. Find Borago, or cucumber grass, seeds will not be difficult.

Cucumber grass - Borago. Growing

Even newcomer will cope with the agrotechnology of growing Borago. First you need to say about the time of planting this plant. Borago is a cold-resistant plant. Some gardeners even sow it before the winter onset. But more popular time is early spring. It is in March or early April who should begin to prepare for the landing of the cucumber. If you are singing Borago once again in August, then you will get another harvest and beautiful flowering of this plant.

It will not be superfluous to prepare the ground for landing the cucumber in the fall. Superphosphate and potash salt are brought under the people.
In the spring, the soil also stands to overcoat, jerk well and make an ammonary nitrate.
In the soil they make grooves in a depth of about 3 cm. Between the seeds, it is advisable to leave the gap at 8-10 cm. If you don't do this, then you will have to remove extra bushes. The minimum distance between rows is 35-40 cm.
If you are afraid of frosts or want to achieve earlier germination of Borago, then the bed can be covered with a film.
After approximately 7 days, the first searches will appear.

Caring for Borago

Care for cucumber grass will not submit difficulties even to novice gardeners. Among the minimum actions that you have to do is allocate:

not too abundant, but regular watering. The plant, though drought-resistant, achieve juicy and meaty greenery, you can only regularly watering it;
deleting weed grass. If you grow a cucumber in decorative purposes, then weeds will only spoil the appearance. They need to get rid of them;
sleeping of cucumber grass. The distance you want to leave between Borago bushes depends on what purpose you are growing it. If you grow Borago to produce juicy greenery, then leave the distance between the plants of about 10 cm. If you are growing Borago in decorative purposes and to obtain seeds, then the distance should be about 45-60 cm;
before the beginning of the flowering period, you can feed the cucumber grass with any organic fertilizer.

How and when to collect the harvest of Borago

Approximately a month after the first sprouts, the first harvest of Borago can already be collected.
The most delicious, juicy, fragrant are the very first leaflets that have already reached 5-7 cm long.
If you "tighten" with harvesting, the leaves will become more rigid, cover the tight layer of "edges", they will not be so fragrant.
The harvest of Borago occurs similarly to the scooter of the spinach.
If the collected leaves of Borago folded into wooden boxes, then their tastes can be saved for several days. Store such boxes should be in a cool place.
The collection of Borago seeds is performed when the fruits became brown. They are laid on the fabric or paper, where they are ripening and dried. Then these fruits will need to be sprinkled.

Why grow Borago in the greenhouse

Very often experienced gardeners Sing Borago in greenhouses. Why are they doing that? The thing is that the cucumber grass is a magnificent honey, which attracts bees. The grass is planted in a greenhouse with cucumbers and tomatoes for better pollination. Sow Borago in the greenhouse enough chaotically. The plant also has the properties to outstretten the weeds, which is also very useful.

Borago - cucumber grass. Growing at home

If you dream about a mini-garden on the windowsill, the plant of Borago will become an excellent helper in the year-round enrichment of your diet with fragrant greens. Adhere to the following recommendations in the cultivation of Borago in the facilities:

the undoubted advantage of the cultivation of Borago at home is that the plant is absolutely not capricious in terms of lighting and temperature. It can be grown both on the light window and on the shady. But keep in mind that, under the right sunlight, the leaves are quickly harsh;
choose suitable seed seed capacities. These can be long containers, drawers or flower pots;
an excellent filling for capacities will serve the finished soil for growing roses, which can be bought in the store. If you cook a nutrient earth mixture yourself, then mix the turfs and humus. It is also worth adding a little sand;
for planting seeds on the surface of the Earth, furrows are made at a distance of about 5 cm from each other;
blooming Borago seeds is not necessary. The depth of furrow is 1.5-2 cm.

The first shoots will delight you after 5-7 days. The plant responds positively to regular feeding.

The cucumber grass is one of the most unpretentious plants on the site, but many of his useful properties do not even guess, taking Borago for weed. Once, having tried a summer vegetable salad of juicy leaves of this plant, you will not be able to deny yourself the pleasure of growing Borago in your site.