Lovage – A Renaissance

Lovage is an ancient traditional herb from southern Europe. Spread gradually across Europe in the early monks, they carried with them from place to one of its many restorative herbs instead. It has become popular in parts of the USA

Roots were used to fight disease

After the Reformation, but many monks left their herbs were left behind and continue to grow in the towns and villages. The roots,Above all, have been used to cure many diseases. The leaves were also used as a spice in the kitchen, a use that has experienced a renaissance in modern times. All parts of the plant are strongly aromatic. Both the flavor and aroma are reminiscent of celery.

Perennial

Lovage is a perennial plant. Each year, growing new leaves wither, the later at the beginning of winter. It can grow very high, very fast and can reach a height of 5-7 meters per year. The large, smooth, finelydivided leaves have an attractive blue-green color. A member of the Apiaceae, the carrot family, lovage has flat clusters of yellowish-green flowers on the tips of the grooved stems in summer.

Once used as a medicinal herb

The roots and seeds were once used in medicine. The roots were dug up and cooked in the spring, used in accordance with the water in which it was cooked for diseases such as kidney problems and constipation. It was believed that both the leaves andRoots to relieve sore throat and persistent cough.

Lovage in the kitchen

Lovage has a special flavor and aroma. Many love it, while others hate it. In any case, they should be used with caution. Only a small sheet or band of root can do wonders, but too much can ruin an entire dish. Lovage is frequently in the production of stock cubes used to give additional flavor. The leaves can be dried or frozen for the winter and the roots for a long time in the pastRefrigerator.

Indoor and outdoor cultivation

Lovage is best suited to growing outdoors, but it can also be a year in the interior and re-sown every year are grown. Lovage is a pot plant in the window or on the balcony are grown for the summer. Young plants reach a height of 16-20 cm to reach the leaves remain tender and non-blooming plant.

Growing Lovage

Sow in spring in pots of plant material, soil with some sand mixed. With aTemperature between 68 ° -86 ° F., the first leaves to appear within 4 weeks. Cover the pots with glass or plastic and are available to them more than a source of bottom heat, when the night temperatures are lower than daytime temperatures. Keep the soil moist and move the pots to a cooler place if the seedlings appear. Pot the seedlings into larger, deeper pots when they are large enough to handle, too. One to three plants should be sufficient to meet the needs of a typical household.

Outdoor PlantsFrost, death and sprouting new growth in spring bear. Indoor plants remain green until the winter when the leaves wither and reappear in spring. Or dispose of them and regrow every year.

Plant Doctor

Lovage is rarely attacked by insects or disease, perhaps because it's strong flavor.

The larvae of the black vine weevil to be resident in the roots, so that the plants wither and die. Discard affected plants and sterilize or discardBottom.

When the leaves wither at the edges of lovage, it may be because the soil is often quite dry. Water regularly, especially in dry weather.

Buying Tips

Lovage seeds and plants are usually offered for sale in nurseries, seeds can also be requested from the seed catalogs.

Life: Pot-grown lovage should be renewed every year. Garden plants will live for several years and seeds.

Season: Spring to Autumn. Dormant inWinter.

Quotient Difficulty: Easy.

In Brief

Size and growth rate

Lovage is a hardy shrub that can reach a height of 5-7 meters per year. It has large, divided leaves and stems grooved.

Bloom and fragrance

Flat clusters of yellowish-green flowers in summer. All parts of the plant are very aromatic, including the seeds.

Light and temperature

Lovage grows in sun and shade. It is not adifficult plant to grow and survive frost. There will of course begin to fade in the fall and can adapt to a relatively strict conditions.

Watering and feeding

Potted plants should be watered regularly and thoroughly fed now, throughout the growing season and with a general fertilizer and then.

Soil and transplanting

Lovage is not picky about soil and will thrive in any good garden soil or commercially available potting soil. Prick out indoor sown seedlingslarger pots for further development. Do not use plants in containers for more than two years of preservation, they are too large and dominate. Garden plants can be left to grow for several years.

Grooming

None, except for the collection and use in cooking.

Plants

It is easy to share the older garden plants is not recommended for pot-grown plants, since they also tend to be rough. Container plants grow from seeds.

Environment

Highly decorativeWindow in the kitchen shed, together with other herbs.

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