Kitchen Garden Forum

I know that lovage gets very tall, especially when coming into flower, but will it do this in it's first year? I've got some in pots grown from seed indoors about Feb. They're outside now, well hardened off, but still quite small though growing fast now the weather's warmed up a bit.
Reason I'm asking is that I appear to have less space available on my plot than I'd anticipated due to bad planning and impulse planting (doubt if I'll ever change)

I bought a small plant in a pot years ago and it grew to about 4ft in its first year, with a spread of about 2-3ft. The following year it was about 6ft tall and took up about 3-4ft at its base. I dug it up after that as I barely used it and it seemed a waste of space. I would imagine that even if you love the stuff, one plant would be plenty.

Thanks Angi, just what I wanted to know. I'm only really growing it as a bit of a screen to hide an overgrown area of my neighbouring plot which will hopefully be tidied up by the winter, so it should do the job well enough. Also, I've never tasted it but I'd like to try it in stews etc.

Apart from something to drink with Brandy I have no idea what it is, wonder if you could enlighten us further Jude??

I have a large clump of lovage that I grew from seed years ago, it grows to about 7' every year, great flowers that the hoverflies love, and seedheads that all the birds do too. I use the leaves chopped in salads, or in stews, the taste is a bit like a mix between celery and fennel. You can also use the seeds on top of bread like poppy or sesame seeds.

There you go Compo, Deb has said it all for me, thanks Deb!

A gentle warning - lovage is fairly laxative, in my experience - don't overdo it . . .

I really want some of this now. Haven't found it in a garden centre yet though... Perhaps I should try online.

Go to http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/plantfinder.asp although you will need to know that correct Latin as it comes back with three latin names.

Once you go further it will list suppliers and locations.

Streps, where abouts in Cheshire are you? I have two spare plants if you could arrange to collect them - pm me if you're interested 'cos they'll probably be binned otherwise.

Aw thanks very much for the offer Jude but we're in Northwich So near yet so far.