Plant Needs.... Planting site Hardiness: Hardy in UK/Ireland/Scottish Highlands Zones 3 to 10 (-40C to 4C / -40F to 40F) Border/container: Borders Sun/shade: Likes sun Soil type: Any Soil pH: Acid (ericaceous), Alkaline, Neutral Moisture: Well drained soil, moisture retentive soil Hazardous: No
Description... Lovage is a striking herb that grows vigorously and has a pleasing appearance. It makes a frothy mound of largish, three lobed leaves, subtly heart-shaped if you exercise your imagination. The leaves are a light yellow-green, while the flowers are rather spindly, white efforts at the top. If crushed, the leaves have a celery scent and you can eat them raw or use them as a flavouring. One recipe advocates two leaves per two pints of soup, so one plant would service a soup kitchen. It was once used in the manufacture of a drink called lovage.
Typically available as
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Seeds
(GA0)
(GA3)
(GA6)
(GA9)
Bulbs
(GA1)
(GA4)
(GA7)
(GA10)
Plants
(GA2)
(GA5)
(GA8)
(GA11)
Levisticum officinale
Planting your new plant
Water the plant thoroughly when you get it home, and plant out as soon as possible. Make the hole for the plant larger that the pot it is in and the same depth. When removing the plant from the pot, squeeze the sides of the pot to loosen it. Loosen the roots of the plant, put the plant in the hole spreading the roots to encourage them to grow outwards. Fill round the edges of the rootball with soil to the same level as the surrounding soil.
Care for your plant
Plants in containers need plant food to thrive when in growth. Seek advice from your retailer regarding best product(s). Follow the packet instructions when applying plant food. Remove fading flowers to encourage fresh ones.
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