The taste of lovage, also called maggi herb, is very popular. We show why it is worth growing the aromatic perennial in your own garden.
Persistent perennial and herbaceous - Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is a classic perennial. The representative of the umbelliferae (Apiacea) is also known as Maggi herb due to its characteristic aroma. The seasoning sauce of the same name does not contain a trace of lovage, however. That is why it is often used in the kitchen as an alternative to the ready-made seasoning for seasoning soups, meat dishes, egg or mushroom dishes. When harvested fresh, lovage, in spite of its leaves, is similar to that of the smooth-leaved parsley Look confusingly similar, but cannot be overlooked: The perennial towers far above everything else in the herb garden. The herb can shoot up to 2.5 m every year, if it feels comfortable.
Anyone can grow lovage. However, there are a few points to pay attention to, such as the right location, the right substrate and appropriate care. With the following tips, however, the cultivation of the Maggi herb is guaranteed to succeed.
The right location for lovage in pots and beds
Lovage clearly prefers a sunny to partially shaded location in the garden - it likes it light and warm. When choosing a location, it is important to note that lovage needs several years to mature, and during this time it becomes very large and wide. Since lovage is a heavy eater, a nutrient-rich and calcareous substrate with a high pH value should be provided in the bed. In addition, the soil must not tend to become waterlogged and should contain a certain amount of sand or gravel.
When cultivating in a pot, a sufficiently large planter should be selected. The rule here is: Better to take a slightly larger pot straight away, because lovage grows quickly and you save yourself repotting too often. A well-drained, yet water-storing substrate should also be used in the pot in order to protect the lovage's roots and quench the plant's thirst. Our Plantura Organic universal soil meets these requirements excellently.
Summary: The perfect location for lovage
- Sunny to partially shaded location
- Keep a good distance from other plants
- Nutrient-rich, calcareous substrate
- Well drained, sandy soil
How to plant lovage
Lovage is best sown directly in the bed in summer. Alternatively, at the end of March, young plants can also be grown in the greenhouse or on the window sill and then moved outside later. You shouldn't overdo it when planting lovage: because even a single shrub grows very large over the years and is easily enough for the needs of a family. Therefore, always place the plants at a certain distance from their neighboring plants. Before planting or sowing, the soil should be well loosened and possibly prepared with organic fertilizer or compost. Then the lovage is well watered to accelerate growth / germination.
Care for lovage after planting
When growing lovage, care should be taken to ensure that neither too much nor too little is poured. The Maggi herb abhores waterlogging, and drastic drought also leads to avoidable stress. Therefore, a healthy middle should be found and poured evenly.
Especially when cultivating in pots, the plant needs additional watering, the frequency of which naturally depends on the volume of the planter. Fertilization is actually not necessary in the bed. It is sufficient to work some organic fertilizer into the soil at the beginning of the year. If the lovage is in the pot, we recommend adding a liquid fertilizer such as our Plantura to the irrigation water about every four weeks Organic indoor & green plant fertilizer admit it.
More detailed information on Care and wintering of lovage can be found in our special article.