Lovage – fragrant, ancient culinary and medicinal herb seeds.

🌿 Lovage – fragrant, ancient culinary and medicinal herb seeds.

📜 Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is an ancient culinary and medicinal herb in European culture and history, known since Ancient Roman times. In antiquity, people prepared “love potions” from lovage, and the English name lovage is often associated with the word love.
In the Middle Ages, lovage was one of the most popular monastery garden plants, and monks spread it across Europe. Lovage is hardy, fast-growing, and suitable for growing in any garden. Lovage is also considered a protector of home and family against negative influences, which is why it was often planted near old house entrances, doors, or gateways.

✨ Characteristics of lovage

– Spicy, celery-like aroma
– Fast-growing, perennial plant
– Very winter-hardy
– All parts of the plant are usable – leaves, stems, roots, and seeds
– Repels pests and attracts pollinators, making any garden more ecological
– Aroma remains even when dried, allowing lovage to be used year-round

🌱 Growing lovage in the garden

Lovage grows best in fertile, nutrient-rich, moist but well-drained soil.
It can be grown in full sun or partial shade.
It is a perennial plant – in the first year it forms a strong root system, and in the following years it develops a lush, decorative clump.
In autumn the above-ground part dies back. Lovage regrows in spring without the need for winter protection.

🌡️ Temperature

– Germination: +15–20 °C
– Optimal growth: +16–25 °C
– Winter hardiness: down to –30 °C with snow cover

🌾 Sowing

Lovage seeds germinate in light – they must not be covered with a thick layer of soil.
Sowing indoors: March–April (germinates in 2–4 weeks), but a period of cold is necessary for germination. Sown seeds can be placed for a few weeks in the refrigerator, on a balcony, or in a greenhouse.
Sowing outdoors: early spring or late autumn (natural stratification)
When lovage seeds sprout and seedlings have developed 2–3 true leaves, they should be pricked out and later transplanted at 60–80 cm spacing.

🌍 Northern Europe vs. Southern Europe – differences in growing conditions

❄️ Northern Europe (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway)
– Plant lovage seedlings outdoors in a permanent location in May, after the last frost
– Lovage grows well in sunny or partially shaded areas
– In the first year, regular watering is necessary; lovage needs moisture to develop a strong root
– Lovage is winter-hardy and does not need covering

☀️ Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, the Balkans, southern France)
– Lovage can be planted earlier in a permanent spot from seedlings – beginning of April
– During hot summers, lovage must be watered and mulched. Mulch protects the roots from overheating
– Ideal growing conditions: morning sun + afternoon shade

⚠️ Common mistakes when growing lovage

Sowing mistakes:

1. Sowing lovage seeds too deep → seeds do not germinate and rot

2. Cold environment (below +15 °C) → germination slows down

3. Too little light → leggy seedlings

4. Overwatering → seeds become moldy

Growing mistakes:
– Heavy, clayey, waterlogged soil
– Planting lovage seedlings in hot, dry locations without mulch
– Cutting lovage leaves too intensively in the first growing year

🍲 Using lovage in cooking

Lovage is a spicy, warming herb with its own unique flavor that enriches any dish and makes it healthier and more aromatic. Lovage is used in:
– soups and broths
– meat and fish dishes (lovage aids digestion, making it valuable when added to marinades for BBQ, kebabs, and other grilled meats, helping the stomach handle heavy meals more easily)
– potato dishes
– sauces and marinades

All parts of lovage are used – leaves, stems, roots (before flowering), and seeds.
Leaves can be dried, frozen, or used fresh.
Lovage is a valuable ally in the garden: its scent repels harmful insects and attracts pollinators. Lovage essential oils are used in perfumes, soaps, and liquor production.

💚 Medicinal properties (traditional folk medicine)

In folk medicine, lovage is used for:
– improving digestion, especially when there is a feeling of heaviness in the stomach
– as a diuretic and bile-stimulating remedy
– reducing spasms
– stabilizing heart function and strengthening the heart
– reducing symptoms of migraines and rheumatism
– treating wounds and improving skin condition, using lovage as a mask or compress
– strengthening hair when used as a warm lovage infusion for rinsing

✍️ Author: Heart Garden Studio
📦 Seed packet: 10 pcs