Organic Lovage Seeds

Lovage is a specialty culinary and medicinal herb. Young leaves taste like celery and can be used in many recipes. Its roots are also edible. If allowed to flower, the flowers are a favorite of beneficial insects such as lacewings, parasitic wasps, and more.

Planting Zones

Zones 9-10

• This is a cool-season crop that thrives in cool and moist environments. For Zones 9 and 10, plant lovage during the winter and early spring.

Zones 2-8

• Sow in early March or 10-12 weeks before transplanting outdoors. 

Planting Lovage

• We recommend transplanting out in Zones 9 and 10. This allows you to start seed in a protected, cool space in the fall to plant into the garden when temperatures have cooled. 
• Direct sowing is not recommended.
• Lovage seeds are small and should be planted close to the surface since light aids in the germination. Using starter pots or trays, place the seeds on top of moist high-quality seed starting soil and cover them with 1/16″ of finely sifted soil.
• If starting your seeds inside, you can cover the seed trays with plastic to create a mini-greenhouse and hold in moisture. Once seeds have sprouted, remove the plastic to prevent bacterial growth.
• Fertilize regularly with an organic liquid fertilizer two weeks after seedlings have germinated.
• Transplant when plants are 5-6” tall.

Growing Lovage 

• Lovage thrives in rich, moist soil and can tolerate semi-shade in warmer climates.

Growing Lovage in Containers

• Lovage is an excellent container crop. Make sure your container is at least 20″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture. Mulch heavily on the top layer of soil in the pot to keep the soil from drying out or heating up too much.

Harvesting Lovage 

• The entire plant is edible—leaves, stems, and roots are edible, and seeds can be used as a spice to season dishes. Lovage recipes here!
• Harvest leaves when the plant is young to allow more stems to grow. Once the plant has grown sufficiently, you can snip whole stems for use.
• Lovage has been used as a medicinal herb for a long list of conditions. Although insufficient testing exists, Lovage is suggested as a diuretic and anti-inflammation medicinal herb. It is widely used as a culinary herb.

Southern California Pro-tips

• Mulch heavily around your plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much.
• Using shade cloth can help protect plants from heat. During particularly warm winters, shade cloth may be needed the whole winter for lovage.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Lovage grows great between Cole crops like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. Good companion flowers are cosmos, gaillardia, and borage. Shop all our medicinal herbs here!

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out in-depth information for garden pests at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.