Lovage is a hardy perennial herb that is native to Europe but naturalized throughout North America too. Popular especially in southern European cooking, its leaves taste a bit like parsley with sharper hints of anise. It is often eaten in salads or as seasoning in broths. It’s a must for any kitchen herb garden. Due to its usefulness, it is especially upsetting to find it infested with pests – leaves are so much more pleasant to eat when they’re not covered in bugs! Keep reading to learn more about bugs that eat lovage and tips for lovage pest management.
Lovage And Pests
There are a few insect pests that are known to attack lovage. The tarnished plant bug, leaf miner, and celery worm are just a few of the bugs that eat lovage. These bugs should be able to be removed by hand picking or the strong blast of a hose. If a part of a plant is particularly infested, remove and dispose of it. It is not uncommon to see ants on lovage plants too. These ants aren’t actually harmful to the plants, but their presence is the sign of another problem. Ants like aphids – they actually farm them so they can harvest their excrement, called honeydew. If see ants on your lovage, this probably means that you have aphids, which are attracted to the plant’s sticky juices. Aphids can usually be removed with a strong spray from a hose. Neem oil is also effective. Moles and voles are known to burrow under lovage plants to eat their roots. Not all pests of lovage plants are truly pests. Lovage flowers attract small parasitic wasps. These wasps lay their eggs inside other bugs - when the egg hatches, the larva eats its way out through its host. It is because of this, having flowering lovage in your garden is actually good for deterring pests that might bother other plants.
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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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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.
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Lovage Plants In The Garden - Tips On Growing LovageAll parts of the lovage herb are usable and delicious. The plant is used in any recipe that calls for parsley or celery. To get more information and learn how to grow lovage in the garden, read this article.
