Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Planting
Lovage grows well in full sun to partial shade. Although this aromatic herb can adjust and grow in most soils, barring heavy clay, it thrives best in fertile, well-drained but moist soil. In warmer regions where there is a longer growing season you can direct seed it outside. In cooler regions start seeds indoors about 6 weeks ahead for transplanting or buy a plant from your local nursery and garden center.

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Pruning
Wait until the Lovage plants are at least a foot tall or taller to start harvesting the leaves. Although fresh lovage leaves may be picked anytime of the day, the best time of harvesting them is in the morning, soon after the dew has disappeared. Cut leaf stems from the side of the plant. If your plant becomes a little thinned out towards the end of summer, cut it back to encourage a new flush of growth from which you can harvest. The seed heads need to be cut back to keep the plant growing strongly. In the late fall cut the plant back to the ground marking it's location in the garden. Every couple of years, in early spring when new growth is just beginning to emerge, the plants can be dug up and the roots divided.

If you want to harvest lovage seeds, you need to sever the fruit-bearing branches as soon as their color changes to brown during the latter part of summer. Next, place the seed heads in paper bags. Alternatively, you may also suspend the branched upturned branches over a cloth to collect the mature seeds. It is always advisable to store the seeds in hermetically sealed containers.

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Feeding
Fertilize Lovage one time a year after new growth begins to emerge in spring. Since you'll be eating it, it's best to use a mild organic fertilizer or a composted manure product as a mulch.

Gardenality.com · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Problems
Lovage plants are susceptible to aphids and other chewing insects. At times, insects known as leaf miners attack the plant’s leaves. These insects leave behind white colored burrowing spots in some leaves. When this happens, just remove the injured leaves and destroy them. In colder zones, Lovage appreciates snow cover or mulch during the winter to protect the roots.