Variety field guide
What to expect from Lovage
Lovage brings a deep celery-like flavor to the perennial herb garden.
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Lovage brings a deep celery-like flavor to the perennial herb garden. A little chopped young leaf seasons soups, stews, potatoes and salads, while the tall summer flower stalks add height behind smaller herbs. The plant dies back in late autumn and returns from its roots in spring where hardy. Give it a lasting place with room to form a substantial clump, and let seed-grown plants establish before taking more than a light first harvest.
Minimum seeds per packet: 150 seeds.
A lasting herb-garden source of rich celery-like flavor.
Variety and background
Lovage is Levisticum officinale, a hardy perennial herb, not parsley. Flower stalks may reach 6 feet; established clumps need up to 3 feet of room.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Levisticum officinale W.D.J.Koch |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Maturity / harvest basis | Light harvest after establishment; larger harvests in later seasons |
| Seed depth | 1/8 in |
| Germination | 10-21 days |
| Germination temperature | 65-80 F |
| Plant height / spread | Summer flower stalks up to 6 ft |
| Habit | Upright/Erect |
| Plant spacing | 12-18 in initially; up to 36 in for mature clumps |
| Row spacing | 36 in for mature clumps |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Pollination type | Open-Pollinated (OP) |
Starting from seed
Sow in spring, 1/8 in. deep, indoors or outside. At 65-80 F allow 10-21 days; keep moist. Set young plants 12-18 in. apart, allowing up to 3 ft. for mature clumps. Give rich, moist draining soil and sun or light shade.
Planting and care
Sow in spring, 1/8 in. deep, indoors or outside. At 65-80 F allow 10-21 days; keep moist. Set young plants 12-18 in. apart, allowing up to 3 ft. for mature clumps. Give rich, moist draining soil and sun or light shade. Lovage is Levisticum officinale, a hardy perennial herb, not parsley. Flower stalks may reach 6 feet; established clumps need up to 3 feet of room.
Harvest and use
Snip tender leaves from established plants, leaving plenty to regrow. Freeze or dry for cooking. Gather ripe brown seed heads in late summer and dry under cover. Divide mature clumps in spring if more plants are wanted.
Saving seed
Let selected lovage plants flower and gather ripe brown seed heads in late summer. Dry under cover and store cleaned seed cool and dry. Dividing a healthy established clump in spring is another way to increase the plant.
Common problems
Common concerns: Carrot rust fly or root maggot where present, aphids, caterpillars, leaf spots, damping-off, and uneven emergence from crusted soil. Management: Use clean seedbeds, rotation, careful watering, prompt thinning, airflow, and locally appropriate exclusion methods. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes this selection?
Lovage is Levisticum officinale, a hardy perennial herb, not parsley. Flower stalks may reach 6 feet; established clumps need up to 3 feet of room.
How should I start it?
Sow in spring, 1/8 in. deep, indoors or outside. At 65-80 F allow 10-21 days; keep moist. Set young plants 12-18 in. apart, allowing up to 3 ft. for mature clumps. Give rich, moist draining soil and sun or light shade.
When and how should I harvest?
Snip tender leaves from established plants, leaving plenty to regrow. Freeze or dry for cooking. Gather ripe brown seed heads in late summer and dry under cover. Divide mature clumps in spring if more plants are wanted.
Can I save seed?
Let selected lovage plants flower and gather ripe brown seed heads in late summer. Dry under cover and store cleaned seed cool and dry. Dividing a healthy established clump in spring is another way to increase the plant.
