Lovage
Levisticum officinale
Tall, robust perennial with an intense celery-like flavor. A little goes a long way in cooking; one plant is usually enough.
Overview
Companion Planting
Good Companions
Green Bean
PotatoBad Companions
None
Toxicity
Lovage is a traditional culinary herb generally safe for humans, dogs, and cats. Contains furanocoumarins that may cause photosensitive skin reactions with heavy handling. Not listed as toxic on the ASPCA database. Avoid during pregnancy or with kidney disease due to its diuretic effect.
Planting Tips
1 cm of water per m² equals 10 liters. Use the Watering Calculator for exact amounts.
Care Tip: Cut back flower stalks to encourage leafy growth and prevent self-seeding; divide clumps every 3-4 years in spring to rejuvenate. Cut the entire plant back to 5 cm in late autumn. Lovage can reach 1.5-2 m tall, so position at the back of beds.
Common Pests
Celery Leaf Miner
Symptoms: Pale winding tunnels (mines) inside leaves; blistered, brown patches on foliage; larvae visible inside leaf tissue when held to light.
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected leaves promptly; squeeze visible mines to crush larvae inside. Apply neem oil as a deterrent spray.
Prevention: Cover plants with fine mesh or horticultural fleece in spring to block egg-laying flies; remove plant debris in autumn; practice crop rotation with other Apiaceae family plants.
Aphids
Symptoms: Clusters of green or black insects on young shoots and leaf undersides; curled, distorted new growth; sticky honeydew residue and possible sooty mold.
Treatment: Blast off with a strong jet of water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray to affected areas; release ladybugs or lacewings as biological control.
Prevention: Encourage natural predators (ladybugs, hoverflies, lacewings); avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen; interplant with companion herbs like chives or nasturtiums.
Carrot Fly
Symptoms: Wilting foliage that turns yellow then reddish-brown; stunted growth; tunnels bored into roots by cream-colored larvae.
Treatment: Remove and destroy infested plants; there is no effective treatment once larvae are in roots. Apply beneficial nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) to soil to target larvae.
Prevention: Use 60 cm tall fine-mesh barriers around plants, as carrot flies fly low; avoid thinning or crushing foliage near plants (the scent attracts flies); interplant with alliums (onions, chives) to mask scent.
Common Diseases
Leaf Spot (Septoria)
Symptoms: Small, circular brown or tan spots with dark borders on leaves; spots may merge causing leaves to yellow and die; lower leaves affected first.
Treatment: Remove and destroy infected leaves immediately; apply copper-based fungicide if infection is widespread; avoid wetting foliage when watering.
Prevention: Ensure good air circulation by spacing plants adequately; water at the base, not overhead; clean up plant debris in autumn; practice crop rotation.
Powdery Mildew
Symptoms: White to grayish powdery coating on leaf surfaces; affected leaves may curl, yellow, and drop prematurely; reduced plant vigor.
Treatment: Remove badly infected leaves; spray with a solution of 1 part milk to 9 parts water, or apply sulfur-based fungicide; improve airflow around plants.
Prevention: Avoid overcrowding; ensure good air circulation; water at the base of the plant in the morning; do not over-fertilize with nitrogen.
Root Rot (Phytophthora / Pythium)
Symptoms: Wilting despite moist soil; yellowing and browning of lower leaves; soft, dark, mushy roots with foul smell when dug up; plant collapse.
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected plants; do not compost infected material. Improve drainage before replanting; apply a biological fungicide containing Trichoderma to surrounding soil.
Prevention: Plant in well-drained soil; avoid waterlogging and heavy clay without amendment; do not overwater; ensure containers have adequate drainage holes; practice crop rotation.