Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is a versatile and hardy herb that adds a unique flavor to many culinary dishes. With its celery-like taste and robust growth habit, lovage is a valuable addition to any herb garden, especially in Colorado’s diverse climate. Propagating lovage can be a rewarding endeavor, allowing you to expand your herb garden and enjoy fresh lovage leaves year after year. This article will guide you through the steps to successfully propagate lovage in your Colorado herb garden.
Before diving into propagation techniques, it’s essential to understand how lovage grows and what it needs.
Given Colorado’s high altitude and dry air, ensuring proper soil moisture and protection from intense afternoon sun can help lovage flourish.
There are three primary ways to propagate lovage:
Each method has its advantages depending on your resources and gardening goals.
Start with high-quality seeds from a reputable supplier or collect seeds from an existing lovage plant at the end of the growing season.
In Colorado, it’s best to start lovage seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last expected frost date (usually early March). This gives seedlings a head start before transplanting outdoors.
Fill seed trays or small pots with a light seed-starting mix that drains well. Moisten the soil before sowing seeds.
Scatter the lovage seeds thinly on the surface and lightly cover them with about 1/4 inch of soil. Lovage seeds need light to germinate but benefit from slight coverage to retain moisture.
Place trays in a warm location between 65°F and 70°F. Cover with plastic wrap or a humidity dome to retain moisture until germination occurs, which typically takes 14–21 days.
Once seedlings emerge, remove plastic covers and provide bright indirect light or supplemental grow lights for 12–16 hours per day. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
After the danger of frost has passed (usually mid-May in Colorado), harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over a week. Then transplant them into your prepared garden beds spaced about 18–24 inches apart.
Division is one of the easiest and fastest ways to multiply lovage plants, especially if you already have mature specimens in your garden.
The best time to divide lovage is early spring before new growth starts or in fall when the plant begins to die back.
Water the plant well a day before dividing. Prepare new planting holes enriched with compost or organic matter.
Carefully dig around the base of the plant with a spade or garden fork, lifting the root ball out without damaging it excessively.
Using a sharp knife or garden spade, divide the root ball into sections, ensuring each division has several healthy roots and shoots or buds.
Immediately replant each division into prepared holes at roughly the same depth as they were growing originally. Firm soil around roots and water thoroughly.
Mulch around newly planted divisions to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Keep soil consistently moist during establishment.
Root cuttings are less common but effective for propagating lovage, especially in colder Colorado winters when above-ground parts may die back.
In late fall or early winter after plants have died back, dig up sections of thick roots about 2–3 inches long.
Trim any damaged parts from roots. Root cuttings should have a clean cut on one end (the top) and a natural break on the other (the bottom).
Place root cuttings horizontally about 2 inches deep in pots filled with moist potting mix or directly into prepared garden soil if conditions permit mild winter weather.
Keep pots in a cool but frost-free environment (around 40°F) until shoots emerge in early spring. When shoots grow strong enough, transplant them outdoors following hardening off procedures.
Lovage leaves can be used fresh or dried as seasoning for soups, stews, salads, and sauces. The stems are also edible, similar to celery stalks. Additionally, lovage has medicinal properties traditionally used for digestive health and inflammation relief.
By propagating your own lovage plants using these methods suited for Colorado’s climate, you’ll ensure an abundant supply of this flavorful herb throughout the growing season.
Propagating lovage for your Colorado herb garden can be done effectively through seeds, division, or root cuttings. Each method offers gardeners flexibility based on their existing resources and timing preferences. With proper preparation of soil, water management tailored to Colorado’s climate, and attentive care during establishment, lovage can become a long-lasting perennial that enhances both your garden’s beauty and your culinary repertoire. Start today by choosing your preferred propagation method and enjoy harvesting fresh lovage leaves for years to come!