"The Lovage Herb" Growing the lovage herb in your garden couldn't be easier. It is a hardy perennial herb and will come back year after year given the right conditions. It's a tall growing plant and should be placed at the back of your herb or vegetable garden so as not to shade lower growing plants. This herb has a strong celery type taste and the seeds are often ground and used in place of celery salt.
Prepare the ground by digging over and raking to a fine consistency before sowing your seed. Seed should be sown in the spring, preferably after all danger of frost has passed, or cover with a protective cloche overnight if temperatures are likely to drop. Keep weed free and watered until seedlings are large enough to move, then thin out to allow about 2ft (60cm) between plants. Replant seedlings immediately. Seeds can be started off a little earlier in seed trays if you have space to keep them indoors or in a warm greenhouse. Fill well-drained pots or seed trays with compost and sow a few seeds. Keep warm and watered but not too wet until seeds have germinated and the seedlings are large enough to handle. It's a good idea to double check on your seed packet for manufacturer's growing recommendations for lovage herb before you start, as regional and variety needs may differ. 
Just after the leaves begin to show in the spring, dig up your plant carefully and separate the root by pulling apart gently. Re-plant pieces of root that have growing shoots and look healthy. Discard any diseased parts. Water the new plants well and keep an eye on them until they start to grow well. Lovage likes a deep and rich soil, so dig in some well rotted manure or compost during the season before you plant to get the most from the plants. Remember to use your lovage. Leaves can be added to salads as well as soups casseroles and stews, adding a wonderful celery flavour to your recipes. Seeds should be collected if possible to use in the kitchen during the winter or saved to plant next year. Lovage plants will last for many years before they need replacing. Once established there's very little maintenance involved so growing lovage herb in your herb garden is definitely worth considering! Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates. ("There's more about the lovage herb in this wonderful little book!")  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back to Garden Herbs Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click here to subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - your FREE monthly ezine! http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/lovageherb.html |
