Caring for, cutting and overwintering lovage

So that you can enjoy your lovage for as long as possible, it must be properly cared for. This includes the right cut and overwintering measures.

lovage (Levisticum officinale) is characterized above all by its intense aroma, which reminds many of the well-known Maggi spice from the bottle. In order for the perennial Maggi herb to grow well with you, you have to consider a few things. We give you tips on caring for and overwintering lovage.

Caring for lovage: Water properly

Due to its rapid growth, the lovage is very thirsty, especially on sunny days. Regular watering can even be necessary in the bed, especially in rather permeable, sandy soils. The perennial should generally be kept evenly moist. Neither excessive watering nor total dehydration suit the Maggi herb. The healthy mediocrity is the way to success. If you water lovage in a pot, you should make sure that there is no moisture in the container. In our article on how to avoid waterlogging right from the start, we reveal

Planting lovage.

Fertilize lovage

Lovage is considered a heavily consuming plant. It therefore requires fertile soil with a relatively high nutrient content. Lovage should be fertilized annually so that it grows vigorously and healthily. This works very well with the incorporation of organic fertilizers like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer. This is a long-term fertilizer and therefore not only provides your maggi herb with nutrients for a short time. The high nitrogen content is ideal for the heavy-duty lovage plant and can also be used for a variety of other plants in your garden.

Lovage is best fertilized in pots with a liquid fertilizer like ours Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer. This is easily applied by watering and ensures an optimal supply of nutrients to the Maggi herb.

tip: Repot lovage about every 2 to 3 years so that the substrate does not become too dense and there is no lack of phosphorus - this is exactly what potting soil often depletes over time.

Cut lovage

Since lovage is very vigorous, it may be necessary to cut it back a little from time to time. Regularly removing the inflorescences ensures longer vegetative growth - so you can harvest the lovage longer without it tasting bitter. The tearing out of mature inflorescences ensures that your lovage has a longer lifespan.

In addition to harvesting, pruning of the above-ground parts of the plant that died in autumn is recommended. Cutting the lovage now will benefit the new shoots in spring, as there are no old stems to hinder growth. Of course, diseased and dried-up parts of the plant or even the flowers can be removed at any time if seed formation is to be prevented.

Lovage turns yellow or does not grow: what to do?

If some of your lovage's old leaves have brown spots or are turning yellow, it may be because they are older. You can remove them with peace of mind. However, if the upper, younger leaves turn yellow or show spots, this can have several causes:

• Fungal pathogens: rust (Puccinia bornmuelleri) or Septoria leaf spot (Septoria apiicola) are more common in lovage. The rust occurs on leaves and petioles, where it forms spore deposits. You can recognize it by the rust-red to yellow spots, which can often be seen on the underside of the leaf. No pesticides are permitted for home and allotment gardens here - a regular, vigorous one Pruning ensures that you can harvest the young leaves again for a while, as long as they are not affected are.
  Septoria leaf spots are up to 1 cm in size and can be yellowish, gray or even brown. The spots are surrounded by a clear reddish-brown edge and small black dots can be seen in the inner area. Since it is a fungal disease that is propagated via seeds, you should pay attention to tested seeds.

• Infestation with pests: Yellow spots on lovage can also be a result of pest infestation, such as aphids or bedbugs. So if there are spots, check to see if you can find any pests on your plants - don't forget to look at the underside of the leaves as well. If you have found any, it is important to identify them and initiate suitable measures such as the use of beneficial insects.

• nutrient deficiency: Lovage needs a nutritious subsoil to grow healthily - if there is a lack of nitrogen, its leaves turn yellow.

• Dryness: When it is dry, the leaves first wilt and then become irreversibly dry – even then the lovage leaves discolour.

Hibernation: Is lovage hardy?

If you want to overwinter lovage, you don't usually have to worry. The spicy herb is a perennial whose above-ground plant parts die back every winter. However, nutrients are stored in the rhizome - the underground shoot axis - which provide the necessary energy for a new shoot next spring. Thus, the maggi herb is hardy. Should there be prolonged, double-digit minus temperatures in a severe winter, the rhizome can be protected by covering it with mulch, brushwood, fleece or similar.

All information about Cultivation of lovage can be found in our special article.