GrowSabzHow to grow lovage in pots
Also called Garden Lovage, Love Parsley, Maggi Plant, garden lovage · Levisticum officinale
لوویج
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 4–6hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 1.7 Levery 3 days, 20 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 15–24°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 20 L35 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 60–90days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 1 kgper 20 L pot
Lovage keeps producing once it starts. First picking comes around day 60, and the plant then crops for roughly 120 more days — but only if you keep picking. Letting it run to flower is what ends the supply.
Short answer
Grow lovage in a 20 litre container at least 35 cm deep, watering about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil every 3 days, and keep temperatures between 15 and 24 °C. First harvest comes 60–90 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does lovage need?
20 litres and 35 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 20 L | 35 cm | Use pots with good drainage. Lovage grows large. |
| Grow bag | 20 L | 35 cm | Fabric bags provide good aeration and drainage. |
| Open ground | — | 45 cm | Ensure ample space for growth and deep root development. |
| Raised bed | 40 L | 40 cm | Deep soil in raised beds supports its taproot. |
Watering
How often should you water lovage?
Every 3 days through the growing season, at about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 4 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Base of the plant works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- yellowing leaves
- stunted growth
Too much water
- yellowing lower leaves
- stunted growth
- root rot
Avoid: waterlogging; completely drying out.
Climate
Can you grow lovage where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 15 – 24 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -15 – 30 °C |
| Germinates above | 15 °C — best at 20 °C, about 14 days |
| Flowers drop | above 28 °C, or below 5 °C |
| Sunlight | 4–8 hrs/day, best 6 |
| Frost | Low sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 30 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for lovage? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Lovage growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for lovage
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why lovage fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 20 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Lovage wants about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 28 °C, or below 5 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Harvesting too late
Left too long the colour changes, seeds harden and the flavour sharpens. Pick on the signs listed below, not on the calendar.
- Planting it beside Thyme
Lovage can grow quite large and has a strong scent, potentially overshadowing or outcompeting smaller, more delicate herbs like thyme or marjoram for light and nutrients.
Companions
What to plant with lovage
Good neighbours
Lovage is said to improve the flavor and vigor of most vegetables, especially brassicas like cabbage.
Its strong scent may help deter potato beetles and other pests.
A general beneficial companion, enhancing the health and growth of nearby plants.
Lovage is known to be a good neighbor to most legumes, promoting overall garden health.
Keep apart from
Lovage can grow quite large and has a strong scent, potentially overshadowing or outcompeting smaller, more delicate herbs like thyme or marjoram for light and nutrients.
Problems
Lovage pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and the undersides of leaves, sucking sap and secreting sticky honeydew. Can cause stunted growth and distorted leaves.
Spider Mites humidity <50% · temp >27
Tiny pests that cause leaves to look stippled, pale, and eventually turn yellow and drop. Fine webbing may be visible on the undersides of leaves, especially in hot, dry conditions.
Leaf Miners humidity any · temp 18-28
Larvae tunnel within leaf tissue, creating winding, pale trails or 'mines'. While rarely fatal, heavy infestations can reduce photosynthetic capacity and aesthetic value.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery fungal spots appear mainly on the upper surface of leaves. Can cause leaves to yellow and die off prematurely, especially in crowded conditions with poor air circulation.
Leaf Spot humidity >70% · temp 18-25
Various fungal or bacterial pathogens can cause small, dark, often circular spots on leaves. Severe cases can lead to defoliation, but usually not a major threat to lovage.
Harvest
When to harvest lovage
First picking falls between day 60 and day 90, and the plant then keeps producing for about 120 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Tender, green leaves are 6-12 inches tall
- Before flowering for best leaf flavor
How much to expect
Storing it: Fresh: Wrap in damp paper towel and refrigerate for up to a week. Dried: Hang bundles in a cool, dark place. Frozen: Chop and freeze in ice cube trays with water.
Questions
Lovage: common questions
How long does lovage take to grow?
About 90 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 60 and day 90. It then keeps producing for roughly 120 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does lovage need?
At least 20 litres and 35 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 40 litres of soil and 40 cm of depth.
How often should I water lovage?
About 700 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 3 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 4 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does lovage need?
It does best between 15 °C and 24 °C and survives from -15 °C to 30 °C. Seed needs soil above 15 °C to germinate, ideally around 20 °C.
Can I grow lovage in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -15 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when lovage is ready to harvest?
Tender, green leaves are 6-12 inches tall; Before flowering for best leaf flavor. Once picked: fresh: wrap in damp paper towel and refrigerate for up to a week. dried: hang bundles in a cool, dark place. frozen: chop and freeze in ice cube trays with water.
How much does one lovage plant produce?
Roughly 1 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 2.5 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.