Lovage

[Margey Maples]

In one of Beverley Nichols' books, he goes into ecstacies about an herb called lovage(levisticium, I believe). This spring I have tried growing it from seeds(source:Baker Creek) and it has not grown very vigorously. However, it has a unique smoky celery flavour. Has anybody else grown this herb?

[Lavandula Girl]

I like lovage - although I don't grow it every year. ( Leaf miners really like it.) As a medicinal, it's used primarily for digestive issues. Historically, it also was used for getting rid of freckles, and to cure pinkeye. I sometimes use it as a first course or light side dish, instead of leeks. Blanche it, and serve it with your favorite sauce. It should die back to the ground, but come back more vigorously next year. Also, pinch off the flowers to encourage it to bush out, and harvest off the plant regularly. Hope this helps!

[bluelacedredhead]

Freckles and pinkeye huh? I know that we redheads are considered trouble at times, but to be lumped in the same category as something as contagious as conjunctivitis! Now that's trouble, LOL :)

[Lavandula Girl]

I am pretty sure that almost everything has been touted as a freckle cure at some point or another! Anything that ever had spots on it, I'm sure - since Culpeper infested 200 years worth of herbals a whole school of thought that whatever the plant looked like, that's what it was good for! (Spotty plants good for skin issues, long skinny things as a vermifuge, certain roots to help with "manly troubles" etc.) Lovage really does have diuretic properties, but I'm definitely questioning the other ideas! ;)

[johno]

Back to discrimination against redheads...grumble grumble...

[bluelacedredhead]

Johno, thanks for the vote of confidence on behalf of we Rh's...

[GreenZone]

Lovage starts out slow (being a perennial) but if well grown should be 4-5 feet tall and make up into a nice clump by next year. It likes moist (not wet) rich soil. I've grown it for years, makes a nice celery-seed-like flavor in soup or stews, good used sparingly in stir-fry.

--Randel

[Amaranthos]

Grow lovage in the back of your beds, and once established it prove a tall, stately perennial that offers a perfect backdrop to other herbs. I haven't found it as invasive as mint, for example; lovage mostly stays in a tidy clump in the back, though after flowering, you may want to lash the stems together to keep them from sprawling around as they dry.

[sparrowgrass]

Can you buy lovage plants, or is it easy to grow from seed? I could put it in my "rain garden" (where the grey water empties) since that is the only moisture found on the whole two acres right now.

[Lavandula Girl]

Lovage can be grown from seeds, or from plant divisions. If you want to have it for next year, start it this fall from ripe seed. Keep in mind that it's first year can be a little sad, but it comes back really vigorously the next year.

[Cliff Timmons]

I know that we redheads are considered trouble at times,

Sometimes?

I'm glad my wife doesn't come in here. <grin>

[sparrowgrass]

Thanks, Lavendula! I will start looking for seed. (Anybody got any to spare?)

[D'Butterfly]

Back to discrimination against redheads...grumble grumble...
as a lifelong redhead, I heartily concur.

[Amaranthos]

Thanks, Lavendula! I will start looking for seed. (Anybody got any to spare?)

Sure -- at least I think I do.

[sparrowgrass]

I would be glad to send you a stamped, self addressed envelope. I don't think I have anything to trade--it has been so dry here that even the weeds are dying.

[Amaranthos]

I would be glad to send you a stamped, self addressed envelope. I don't think I have anything to trade--it has been so dry here that even the weeds are dying.

Wait, scratch that, dad just called to tell me that someone weed-whacked my garden patch. Give a dog a bone! This young man goes rollin' home!! with no seeds, unfortunately. :mad:
Aargh, asinine people.

[Amaranthos]

Wait, scratch that, dad just called to tell me that someone weed-whacked my garden patch. Give a dog a bone! This young man goes rollin' home!! with no seeds, unfortunately. :mad:
Aargh, asinine people.
I do plan to divide the lovage clump in Spring, so I'll post again then when I have root-stock in hand. :)

[sparrowgrass]

Dang. Hate them weedeaters.

[TastyofHasty]

Today I used the equivalent of about 40 tomatoes -- plus or minus, considering there were probably 50 cherry tomatoes; so ... whatever. I was going to make "tomato puree" from a recipe that called for tomatoes, quartered, plus 2 cups celery, and 2 cups finely chopped carrots. Alack, though; I didn't HAVE any celery. Methinks, "I will go out and get some of that LOVAGE plant that's out there doing nothing but growing in a pot on the back deck, and chop that up instead of celery." ... so I did. My "tomato puree" recipe was cooked up about an hour with the lovage instead of celery; then put through the Squeezo (I LOVE the Squeezo, which removed all peels and some of the seeds (I used the biggest size of screen)). Next step is, hang it up in a jelly bag for 10 to 12 hours. But ... I went ahead and tasted it. Whee-hoo! DELICIOUS! The lovage's taste is like celery but much stronger; and ... better. Forget the jelly bag; this stuff is going to get canned somehow! If I needs must use the pressure canner for the first time, then ... (sigh!) ... so be it. This is tomato soup, DELICIOUS tomato soup.

Just wanted to tell y'all, LOVAGE is good stuff.

[juanita]

I concur - loveage is wonderful stuff, although too strong to eat raw in my opinion. Makes a wonderful addition to vegetarian broth - very full-bodied. And one plant makes quite a few pots of soup once it gets going. Mine is taller than I am, and only a couple of years since I transplanted (half - oops) the root. (BTW - the missed half also came back and I moved it this year. Also doing well although only about 3 ft tall and very bushy.) I started mine from a packet of seeds, and for me to get a perennial to grow from seeds must mean they are pretty easy as I don't usually have success at that sort of thing.

I might have seeds to share - the plant definitely makes seeds, but I have never tried to grow any of them. Not sure about pollination requirements. Does anybody know? Will they cross with other umbelliferae (sp?!)? I stuck the seedheads in the freezer as they were covered in aphids. Hopefully that doesn't affect germination. Anyway, if you think these will grow and grow true to type, you're welcome to pm me. I'd love to trade for seeds for EASY perennial veggies for zone 5.5 or thereabouts. Or comfrey which will grow from seeds. Juanita

[WinterSown]

I used lovage this weekend in the tomato sauce I made. You only need one eight-inch stem with leaves to flavor up a half gallon of maters. It's a strong herb, but it is awesome in tomato sauce.

[cornishwoman]

Lovage makes a very good cordial,tastes best with a good brandy.

[evilsunflower]

How much sun should lovage get? I bought a small plant at a plant sale this spring and read that it liked partial shade. I planted it behind my house, and the realized that because of my maple trees it really gets pretty much full shade back there. It's hardly grown at all since I planted it. Do you think it needs more sun? Or is it just acting like a normal perennial?

I love the idea of having a celery substitute in my backyard, so I really want this thing to thrive. I don't want to move it though if it just needs more time to get established.

[TastyofHasty]

I read that it likes sun, but also likes moisture.

Since here we often get drought and heat (though not THIS year), somewhere in at least half shade seems to be the best possibility for keeping it alive in droughty years. (since I KNOW I'll forget to water it once it's in the ground).

It might like a bit more sun, evilsunflower.

WinterSown, it is a VERY strong celery-flavored herb, but delicious!

I wonder if you could just season a tomato salsa with lovage?

Cornishwoman, do you know how to make lovage cordial?

[bunkie]

i've put lovage in salsa before and it's great!

also, when you boil rice, put a few lovage leaves in it while cooking...great flavor!