Lovage plants (Levisticum officinale) grow like weeds. Fortunately, all parts of the lovage herb are usable and delicious. The plant is used in any recipe that calls for parsley or celery. It has a high salt content, so a little will go a long way but the stalks and stems are best used in carbohydrate-based dishes such as pasta and potato recipes.
Lovage Herb Uses
All parts of the herb are useable. The leaves are added to salads and the root is dug up at the end of the season and used as a vegetable. Stems can replace celery and the flower yields an aromatic oil. Interestingly, the lovage herb is a commonly used flavoring for confectionaries. You can use seeds and stems in candy making. The seeds are a common ingredient in flavored oils and vinegars, which steep in the liquid, releasing their flavor over time. Lovage herb is most commonly used in Europe where it flavors foods in Germany and Italy.
How to Grow Lovage
Lovage looks a bit like celery but is in the carrot family. The plants may grow up to 6 feet (2 m.) and bears lacy thick green foliage. The flowers are yellow and held in umbrella-shaped umbels. They grow 36 to 72 inches (91-183 cm.) with a 32 inch (81 cm.) spread. The base of the plant is comprised of thick, celery-like stems with glossy green leaves that decrease in number as you move up the stalk. The yellow flowers are arranged in umbel type clusters, which produce seeds 1/2 inch (1 cm.) long. Sun and well-drained soils are the key to growing lovage. Growing lovage requires soil with a pH of 6.5 and sandy, loamy soils. Lovage plants are hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 4. Determining when to plant lovage is the first step in growing the herb. Direct sow lovage seed indoors five to six weeks before the date of the last frost. Sow seed on the surface of soil and dust with sand. The seeds may also be sown outside in late spring when soil temperatures have warmed to 60 degrees F. (16 C.). Seedlings require consistent moisture until they are several inches (8 cm.) tall and then irrigation may diminish. Transplant lovage plants 8 inches (20 cm.) apart in rows 18 inches (46 cm.) away from each other. Lovage will bloom earlier when planted indoors. You can expect flowers on transplanted plants in early summer that last until late summer. Leaf miners seem to be the primary pest of the plant and will damage the leaves with their feeding activity. Harvest lovage leaves at any time and dig out the root in autumn. Seeds will arrive late in summer or early spring and the stems are best when eaten young. Lovage has a reputation as a good companion plant for potatoes and other tubers and root crops. Food crops should be arranged in the vegetable garden to form the best alliances and make their growth better and healthier.
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Lovage Plant Illness: How To Manage Diseases Of Lovage PlantsLovage is popular as an ingredient in southern European cuisine. Because gardeners who grow it depend upon it for cooking, it's especially sad to see it showing signs of disease. Click here to learn more about problems affecting lovage and how to treat them.
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Lovage Pest Management – How To Treat Common Pests Of LovageLovage is a hardy perennial herb that is native to Europe but naturalized throughout North America, too. Because of its usefulness, it is especially upsetting to find it infested with pests. Learn more about bugs that eat lovage and tips for lovage pest management here.
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Splitting Lovage Herbs: Tips For Lovage Plant DivisionOnce a common sight on the spice rack, lovage is an undervalued old-fashioned perennial herb. Trying lovage in the herb garden may be as simple as asking a friend for a lovage plant division. Click on the article to learn how to divide lovage plants.
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Seed Grown Lovage Plants – How To Grow Lovage From SeedsSeed grown lovage makes for a gorgeous perennial herb that is a great addition to any herb garden. Interested in growing lovage plants from seed? Read on to find out how to grow and when to sow lovage from seeds.
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Benefits Of Lovage Herb : What To Do With Lovage PlantsLovage doesn't have a very strong flavor and, for that reason, has been put in the back seat compared to parsley, but there are numerous lovage health benefits that may bring this plant back out into the light. Learn more about these uses and more in this article.
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Potted Lovage Care: How To Grow Lovage In A PotWhen you think about herbs, many instantly come to mind such as rosemary, thyme, and basil. But lovage? All of my other herbs are grown in pots, but can you grow lovage in pots too? Learn more about how to grow lovage in a pot by clicking this article.
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Lovage Herb Harvest – When To Pick Lovage LeavesPeople have been harvesting lovage for centuries for not only culinary but medicinal uses. If you're interested in picking lovage plants, click on the following article to find out how to harvest and when to pick lovage leaves.
