Partial Sun
Medium
Lovage may be harvested after the first growing season. As with most culinary herbs, cut in the morning after the dew has dried. Do not wash the leaves or aromatic oils will be lost. Lovage is best used fresh but can be stored frozen in plastic bags or dried. To dry, tie the cuttings in small bunches and hang upside down in a well-ventilated, dark room.
Lovage grows well from seed. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before planting out. Sow 1/4 inch deep. Seeds will germinate in 10-20 days. Transplant after the danger of frost has passed and apply organic fertilizers to promote strong, healthy growth.
Harvest lovage leaves at anytime and the root can be dug out, preferably, in autumn.3
These estimates for how long Lovage takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.
Average 17 days | Min 11 days | Max 420 days (8)
Average 50 days | Min 48 days | Max 52 days (3)
Average 115 days | Min 54 days | Max 1771 days (3)
In many European languages the word for lovage derives from Latin ligusticus (meaning “of Liguria”, as the herb used to grow heartily in the Liguria region of northwest Italy), through its alteration levisticum In English the word became love parsley, and mistakenly, due to the name, lovage was often used in over-the-counter love tonics.
Lovage may be useful for relieving abdominal pains due to gastrointestinal gas. It is also said to reduce flatulence when consumed as a tea.
wear some lovage to assure your sweetheart’s undying devotion1
Grind one handful of lavage blossoms, leaves, stems and roots into a powder. For one cup of tea, pour boiling water over 1 tablespoon of powder, and let steep for 15 minutes. Offer and sip slowly.
Garden lovage
Levisticum officinale W.D.J. Koch
1 Old Wives’ Tales, Folklore, Myths and Legends
2 “Wikipedia entry on Lovage” www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovage
3 “Gardeningknowhow entry on Lovage” www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/lovage/growing-lovage.htm