Lovage- how to grow and use the lovage herb

When we used to make lovage soup regularly in our restuarant at White Moss House, we needed two or three plants, but now that we mostly just cook for ourselves one plant would be ample.

Lovage is a perrenial. In the winter it vanishes, so I leave a few of last year's stalks as markers. In the spring, it shows as a purple- green leaf, then quickly grows to full height in April and May.

Lovage can take partial shade and does better in soil that is fairly fertile and not too dry. If you have a longer growing season, simply direct seed it outside. In the north, start seeds indoors about 6 weeks ahead for transplanting, or buy a plant from a garden center.

Lovage seed needs to be fairly fresh, and to make sure you get one good plant, sow at least 4 seeds in a pot. When you move the plant to the garden keep it well watered for the first couple weeks, and feed with a natural fertilizer.

If you live in an area with a good garden store, you may be able to but the plant ready grown in small pots.This would be my preferred way of starting lovage in your garden, as I don't have much luck with growing from seeds where I live. Even if the weather conditions are good, the birds and mice slugs can get to the seedlings before they are established.

The first year you won't see it's full growth-it will only reach about 2 foot, but you can begin to harvest at a foot. Cut stems from the side, and chop to use in recipes.

Towards the end of the summer, your lovage plant will become rather stringy , and I find that if I cut it down firmly, it will sometimes produce a good showing of fresh leaves.

In the autumn, cut all the plant down, leaving just a few marker stalks to show you where the lovage plant will appear next year.

To see what's going on in my Grasmere, Lake District area right now you can read my blog, and for more Lake District gardening info you can real Notes From a Lake District Garden. 

The stalks can be used like angelica, for candying, and the seeds can be used infusions, but in most lovage receipes it is the leaves that are used.

My favorite uses for the lovage herb are-

Add the chopped leaves to casseroles for an really interesting flavor. The anise, celery flavor of the lovage works really well.

Lovage is great when cooking lentils- sweat a few leaves with onions , then let the lentils cook slowly with the lovage.

Chop the lovage leaves and add to cream cheese- this can then be used as a stuffing - lovely in a chicken breast.

Pesto is traditionally made with basil, but can be made with most herbs including lovage.

Lovage can be used on a pizza topping.

Lovage is excellent with fish, such as salmon.

Chop the lovage leaves in a fresh leaf and herb salad- dress with your favorite dressing.

Lovage soup is delicious. We love leek and lovage soup- it sounds good and tastes fantastic- the leeks and lovage really work well together.

A handful of chopped lovage on pasta looks and tastes great.

Chop the lovage leaves and add to a paste of soft butter- use as a topping for vegetable ( it is really good on carrots)

Lovage has now become a fashion item for top chefs.

• Turbot with ginger and lovage
  A wonderful use of lovage with fish, from top chef Andrew Nutter
• Lettuce and lovage soup
  Lettuce and lovage make a great summer soup. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall loves lovage!
• Pea and lovage soup
  Pea and lovage are another great summer combination, as you can see from this recipe from top chef James Martin
• Baked goats cheese with breadcrumbs and lovage pesto
  From the Daily Telegraph comes this delicious lovage pesto recipe. Great for vegetarians.
• Gammon steaks with broad beans and lovage
  Chef Matt Tebbutt gives us a classic recipe with a twist, by using lovage to add a new flavor
• The Wall Street Journal, no less, has just discovered lovage.
  There are some excellent lovage recipes here- lovage Bloody Mary, Lovage, Caramelized-Onion and Potato Frittata, and Summer Vichyssoise With Green Peas and Lovage

The "love " part of the name "lovage" may date back to the middle ages, when its seeds were used a part of a love potion.It was grown in old monastery gardens, and its seeds, leaves and stalks were all used for medicial purposes.

In the Middle Ages, the emperor Charlemagne so loved lovage that he ordered it to be grown in all his gardens.

Lovage is widely used in homeopathic remedies and for herbal medicine.

The 17th Century herbalist, Nicholas Culpepper wrote of lovage that an infusion 'being dropped into the eyes taketh away their redness or dimness.... It is highly recommended to drink the decoction of the herb for agues.... The distilled water is good for quinsy if the mouth and throat be gargled and washed therewith.... The decoction drunk three or four times a day is effectual in pleurisy.... The leaves bruised and fried with a little hog's lard and laid hot to any blotch or boil will quickly break "- a wide variety of uses!

Although garden Lovage is one of the old English herbs which was very common in gardens centuries ago, it has recently been out of favor.

Lovage is beginning to get more popular again, and lovage now appears in recipes from vaious top chefs.

The roots, stems, and leaves of lovage have long been used for medicinal purposes, especially as a diuretic. As Culpepper mentioned, you can make a lovage tea by either using the seeds or the leaves, to flush out the digestion.

Lovage was thought to be of value for treating kidney stones, jaundice, malaria, sore throat, pleurisy, and boils. ( please note, these are traditional uses for lovage- I make no personal claims and take on responsibility should you try these remedies.

Like many sweet , highly flavored herbs, lovage can be simply chewed as a breath freshener- very useful in the days before toothpaste!

A paste of lovage has been also been used by ladies used to help clear up spots and rashes.

In homes many years ago, lovage was placed in bowls around the house to sweeten and freshen the air.

Lovage cordial has been made for centuries- and is still made and sold today.It is thought to have healthy, cleansing properties.

For stomach cramps and disorders you might want to try using lovage - Lovage traditionally has been thought to help with the digestion.