Cum faci cele mai gustoase murături". Adevarul newspaper. 13 September 2018 . Retrieved 17 March 2019. Blogwatching: white asparagus – A Dutch ritual". DutchNews.nl. 15 June 2020 . Retrieved 2020-09-30. Lovage ( Levisticum officinale) is a hardy, long living perennial herb that is native to southern Europe. Steeped in historical reference, lovage could be found in most kitchen gardens during the Middle Ages for use in both cooking and for medicinal purposes. Today, lovage is most commonly used to season soups, stews, and other dishes. Now if all of that hasn’t convinced you Lovage would be a great addition to your garden or allotment I don’t know what will.

Watering: Lovage does like to be watered in the same way celery does, however, if we do have a hot summer or a drought lovage is much more forgiving and will survive much better than a crop of celery would.

Since lovage grows quite large, both above and below the ground, any containers that you grow the herb in will need to be at least 30cm in diameter and depth. The larger your containers, the happier your plants will be. However, make sure that they are still light enough for you to be able to easily move them into your greenhouse in the autumn. How to Care for Lovage If you would like your lovage plants to keep producing tasty leaves for as long as possible, then flowering is something that you want to prevent. This can be done by snipping off flowering stalks as soon as they begin to form (again, these can also be eaten).

You can harvest just the leaves if you wish or cut at the base of each stem to use the whole thing. a b "Levisticum officinale W.D.J.Koch". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 17 March 2023. You could buy a Lovage plant from your local garden center which would be worth it as over the years it can be divided into more plants and will produce well for you, but if you want multiple plants particularly if you want to use it as a substitute for celery, sowing from seed saves on waste and money.

As a general rule, you should reduce any measurements for lovage seeds by about half compared to what your recipe calls for in terms of fresh or dried leaves. Companion planting: Plant lovage with fennel, hyssop, and catmint. Lovage can be used as a trap crop to lure tomato hornworms away from tomatoes. The greenish-yellow flowers attract beneficial insects to the garden. To prevent this infection, rotate crops regularly and give your plants plenty of space. Prune them regularly to improve air circulation. Also, be cautious about adding too much mulch to the soil, as this can cause it to become waterlogged. Leaf Spot While lovage is mild enough to be eaten raw, its spice-like undertones hold up well to cooking too. Plant form and size: Lovage grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 18 wide. Lovage looks like an overgrown celery plant. Grows lovage in mounded clumps; stems rise above the foliage and are topped with sprays of greenish-yellow flower umbels.

You’ll likely spot this colorful worm before you start to notice the damage to your plants, but keep an eye out for missing or nibbled-on leaves and frass as well, indicators that you have an infestation. Place a plant into each hole before covering over and watering well. How to Plant Lovage in a Greenhouse Like other members of the umbellifier family, lovage bears multi-branched umbels of tiny yellow flowers in late spring. These globular blooms entice beneficial insects to the garden. Bake for 15 minutes until they're starting to turn golden, remove from the oven and divide the filling between the tarts, piling it up quite high. Bake for five to 10 minutes until warmed through. Scatter over dill and lovage, and serve hot or warm. Courgette and lovage pastaKeep in mind that younger leaves are much tastier, as well as more tender, than mature leaves. How to Harvest Lovage Stems If you're short of time, this works well with bought puff. And make one big tart instead of six smaller ones, if you prefer. Serves six.

Make a more flavorful vinegar by filling a jar about halfway with fresh lovage leaves. Top it off with white, rice, or apple cider vinegar. Seal the jar and put it in a dark spot for 2 weeks. Strain out the bits and store until ready to use. If you want to transplant lovage, do so in autumn or spring. Use this opportunity to propagate it by division. Not only does this have the advantage of having at least two specimens afterwards, it also ensures that the plant’s growth is stimulated by rejuvenation. Soil preparation: Plant lovage in well-drained moist soil; add aged compost or commercial organic planting mix to the soil in advance of planting. Lovage prefers a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Chances are that your lovage won’t be affected by pests and diseases – its natural resiliency and strong scent helps to keep it healthy. However, there are still a few issues that could possibly arise that you should be aware of:If you are unable to find fresh lovage or don’t have time to buy it, here are some of the best substitutes that can provide similar flavors: 1 – Celery Leaves One advantage of substituting with celeriac – it’s commonly much more affordable than lovage. 4 – Flat-leaf Parsley Lovage is plenty aromatic, with a flavor that mingles the taste of celery with parsley. Lovage Growing Conditions: Hardiness Generally speaking, Lovage is not hard to grow from seed. You can do so early in the season indoors (late February or early March is best) or in a greenhouse. Alternatively, sow directly outside once temperatures have reached 15-20 degrees. Lovage likes a good amount of light and warmth to germinate.