Lovage

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Lovage (Latin Levisticum) Is a monotypic genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the Umbrella family. The only species is Lovage (Latin Levisticum officinale). Popular names - libistic, dawn, love, love potion, love, love, love potion and love-grass. Natural area - Afghanistan and Iran. Currently, lovage is cultivated in many countries of the world.

Characteristics of culture

Lovage is a herbaceous plant similar in appearance to celery. The root system is powerful, fibrous, the main part of the roots lies at a depth of 30-40 cm. The stem is hollow, strong, bluish, 2-2.5 m high. obovate. Basal leaves are long-petiolate. The flowers are small, white-yellow in color, collected in complex radiant umbrellas. The fruit is an elliptical two-seed, yellow-brown in color; when ripe, it is arranged in two halves.

The culture develops according to a two-year cycle: in the first year of life, plants form a rosette with seven to nine leaves up to 50 cm long, in the second year, flower stalks appear and, accordingly, fruits and seeds. Lovage blooms in June-July. Flowering lasts about 20-30 days. In the same place, the culture can grow up to 15 years. Lovage is a frost-resistant plant, easily tolerates winters in the open field. Seeds germinate at a temperature of 3-4C. The optimum growing temperature is 18-20C. Seedlings can easily tolerate frosts down to -5C, adult plants - up to -8C. Higher temperatures have a detrimental effect on plant development. The culture is prized for its high content of vitamins, essential oils and mineral salts.

Growing conditions

Lovage prefers sandy, clayey or peaty, breathable, moderately moist and nutritious soils. The culture does not accept an excess of nitrogen fertilizers, in this case the root becomes too bulky, and as a result, it loses its juiciness and density, and when cooked it darkens. Plots for growing lovage are desirable well-lit, light openwork shade is not forbidden. Negatively, the culture refers to swampy, saline, waterlogged and acidic soils.

Soil preparation and sowing

The plot for lovage is prepared in the fall: the soil is dug up, compost (4-5 kg per 1 sq. M), urea (15-20 g), superphosphate (20 g), potassium sulfate (30 g) and wood ash (30 g) are added). In the spring, if necessary, fertilizing with fertilizers with a high content of microelements is carried out. Seeds are sown with an early vein, and winter sowing can also be carried out.

Most gardeners grow lovage in a seedling way, it is the most promising. The crops are covered with foil and placed in a room with an air temperature of 20-22C. A couple of weeks after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings are fed with potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate and superphosphate. After another two weeks, re-feeding is carried out. Seedlings are planted in open ground after 45-50 days.

When sowing a crop directly into open ground, maintain a distance between rows of 70-75 cm. The first thinning is carried out with the appearance of 2-3 true leaves on the shoots, and the next - after 30-35 days. The final spacing between plants should be at least 50 cm, this is quite enough for full development and long-term cultivation. The same scheme is acceptable for seedlings.

Care

Caring for lovage consists in weeding, loosening, watering and feeding. Watering is carried out as needed; the soil in the near-stem zone should not be allowed to dry out. If the primary feeding is carried out in early spring, then the secondary feeding is carried out in the middle of summer. When growing a crop for greens, and not for seeds, the forming flower stalks break out when they reach a height of 10 cm.

When harvesting, too careful cutting should not be carried out, later this will affect the filling of the roots. Only one copy will be enough for seeds. Diseases and pests of lovage are very rarely affected, which is due to the presence of essential oils in all green parts of plants.

Application

Lovage is widely used in cooking and perfumery, as well as in folk medicine. Fresh leaves, stems and roots are used to flavor drinks, confectionery, baked goods and marinades. Lovage is often found in green oils, salads, sauces and gravies. As a spice, the plant is added to soups, rice dishes, poultry, vegetables and fish.

Lovage is of particular importance in dietary nutrition. The plant is used in the treatment of diseases of the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, rheumatism, obesity and flatulence. Useful lovage for heart disease, pyelonephritis, edema, urinary retention, anemia, algomenorrhea, migraine and gout. Lovage is contraindicated in pregnant women.