Sativa - Lovage – Seeds

• Pure flavour: Often, a single leaf is enough to give a whole pot of soup or stew a strong, hearty flavour.
• Structural: Thanks to its stately growth habit, with large, feathery leaves and yellowish flower umbels, lovage is an imposing focal point in the background of any herb bed.
• Medicinal properties: Lovage is traditionally used to aid digestion and for urinary tract complaints (purifying effect).

Growing & Care

Lovage is easy to grow and hardy, but due to its size, it needs a well-chosen spot:

• Location: It thrives in sunny to semi-shaded spots. Due to its dominance, it should be planted at the edge or at the back of the bed, as it will otherwise quickly shade out smaller herbs.
• Soil: It prefers deep, humus-rich and moist soils. As it produces a lot of biomass, unlike many other herbs it relies on sufficient fertilisation (e.g. compost in spring).
• Sowing: Direct sowing is possible in spring. The plant forms a strong taproot and prefers to remain in the same spot for years.
• Hardiness: Completely hardy. In winter, the perennial retreats completely into the soil and sprouts vigorously again in early spring.

Key planting information

• Botanical name: Levisticum officinale
• Lifespan: Perennial (very long-lived)
• Sowing depth: 0.5 cm
• Spacing within the row: 30–40 cm
• Spacing between rows: 50–60 cm
• Nutrient requirements: High (fertilise regularly!)

Culinary uses

• Garnish: Indispensable for rich meat or vegetable stocks, stews and sauces.
• Drying & Freezing: Lovage retains its flavour very well when dried. However, you can also freeze the leaves finely chopped in oil or as ice cubes.
• Root & Seeds: The dried root and seeds can also be used as a spice or in tea blends.

A little gardening tip

Lovage is a ‘lone wolf’. Due to its root exudates and vigorous growth, it does not get on equally well with all its neighbours. So give it plenty of space so that it can thrive without crowding out other herbs.