Common, Lovage Seeds

Common Lovage Seed

Dark-green leaves deliver concentrated celery-like flavor
Leaves, stems, and roots all offer culinary uses
Tall perennial returns for repeated seasonal harvests
Excellent in soups, salads, stocks, and poultry dishes

See product details

Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Levisticum officinale

Days to maturity

90 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

200 Seeds

Zones 3–9 Check your growing zone

About Common, Lovage Seed, Lovage Seed

Lovage is a popular culinary herb that produces fine, dark green leaves that have an aroma and taste that is similar to celery. Its leaves can be used in salads, soups as well as added to poultry dishes. The Lovage's roots and stems are also edible. The yellow flowers that this herb produces in June to July attract beneficial insects such as bees.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/2"

Days to Germination

10–21 days

Germination Type

C30 - Cold Moist 30 Days

In-row plant spacing

24-36"

Plant profile

Life Cycle

Perennial

Hardiness Zone

Zones 3-9

Plant Height

60 inches

Growth Habits

Clumping, Upright

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

10,000

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Before Planting

Lovage grows best in a full-sun to lightly shaded site with fertile, well-drained soil that retains moderate moisture. Work compost into the bed and prepare a fine, weed-free surface for the usually small seed. Plan convenient irrigation, and use containers or barriers before planting if lovage may spread aggressively.

Planting

Sow lovage indoors several weeks before the last frost or direct sow when the crop’s preferred soil temperature is reached. Maintain even surface moisture through germination, especially for fine or slow seed. Give indoor seedlings strong light, harden them before transplanting, and thin direct-sown plants after true leaves appear. Repeat sowings where young leaves are harvested continuously.

Watering

Keep lovage moderately and consistently moist, watering when the upper soil begins to dry. Apply water at the root zone and avoid prolonged saturation or repeatedly wet foliage.

Fertilizer

Feed lovage lightly with a balanced or nitrogen-containing fertilizer during active leaf growth. Avoid overapplication, which can create weak growth and reduce flavor or essential-oil concentration.

Harvesting

Harvest lovage leaves or tender stems after plants establish, preferably before flowering for strongest flavor. Cut just above a leaf node and remove no more than one-third of the plant at once.

Tips

Pinch lovage regularly to encourage branching, and remove flower buds when leaf production is the goal. Protect perennial plants from winter wetness and divide woody or crowded growth as needed.

Pests & Diseases

Septoria or Cercospora leaf spots, powdery mildew, rust, and crown rot may affect lovage. Remove spotted outer leaves before disease reaches new central growth. Rotate related Apiaceae crops, avoid saving seed from infected umbels, and divide only firm, healthy crown sections when old plants become congested.

Watch the leaves and new shoots of lovage for aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, leafminers, slugs, and Japanese beetles. Use water or hand removal first, reserving labeled soap for a confirmed infestation.