The Complete Handbook of Borage
A practical reference for growers, processors, and buyers of Borago officinalis
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Grow, process, and sell borage with confidence — the complete operational reference for commercial and serious amateur use.
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About this book
Borage (Borago officinalis) is a dual-purpose crop: a specialty fresh vegetable with a cucumber-like flavor and a commercial source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) from its seeds. But the difference between a profitable crop and a failed one lies entirely in the details — variety choice, soil conditions, harvest timing, and handling protocols. This handbook consolidates all of that operational knowledge into a single, no-fluff reference.
Inside, you will find specific guidance on selecting varieties for leaf production versus seed oil extraction, soil pH and fertility recommendations with target ranges, pest and disease identification with control thresholds, optimal harvest windows measured in days after planting and percentage of flowering, and post-harvest handling for fresh market, freezing, and drying. The book also covers the grading standards used by commercial buyers, the equipment and labor requirements for different scales of operation, and the regulatory considerations for selling borage as food, supplement, or cosmetic ingredient.
Written for growers, processors, and buyers rather than for casual gardeners, the handbook provides the level of detail you need to plan a crop budget, evaluate a potential supplier, or troubleshoot a field problem. It includes real-world examples, checklists, and decision frameworks throughout. Whether you are planting your first quarter-acre or evaluating a 50-acre contract, this is the reference to keep on your desk.
Reader Reviews
Timothy Allen
★★★★★I've been growing borage for seed for six years and I still learned things in the first chapter that would have saved me from two bad harvests. The detail on boron requirements in sandy soils and the specific timing of flowering vs. seed set was worth the price alone. It's refreshing to read something that treats this as a real crop, not a curiosity. I've already ordered copies for the crew.
Rebecca Hall
★★★★★Solid reference. It does exactly what it says — no fluff, all substance. I was hoping for a bit more on fresh market packaging formats and how buyers actually receive the product, but the coverage of GLA seed oil processing and the chemistry side of things was very thorough. The troubleshooting table in chapter 5 is going to be my go-to during the next growing season.
George Johnson
★★★★★Three stars because it's useful but somewhat dry and occasionally wanders into territory that feels like it was written for the author, not the reader. I'm a hobbyist with about half an acre and I found some of the equipment discussions and commercial grading specs to be overkill. Still, the cultivation details are accurate and I did get a better crop this year by following the irrigation and spacing advice. I just wish it were edited down to the essentials.
Thomas Lee
★★★★★Finally, a book that treats borage like the commercial crop it actually is. The chapter on understanding borage didn't just tell me what the plant is — it explained why the same variety can produce wildly different leaf quality and oil yields depending on when you cut it, which is the kind of knowledge you don't get from a seed catalog. The checklists are practical, the writing is direct, and the sections on alkaloid regulation and GLA markets are genuinely useful for anyone trying to sell. This will be the standard reference on my shelf.