Lovage is a delicious perennial herb, sometimes referred to as love parsley, Maggi plant, smallage, old English lovage, or sea parsley. In Italy, lovage is often called mountain celery.
This herb is native to the Mediterranean region, western Asia, and parts of the Middle East. Because of its unique flavor, growing ease, and numerous benefits, lovage has been cultivated around the world for centuries. In fact, it has naturalized in many around in Europe and North America
Lovage tastes like a combination of parsley and celery. The high salt content in the stems and leaves naturally enhances the flavors of your favorite dish. Lovage microgreens are great in salads, stuffing, and soups. They also make a beautiful and tasty garnish.
Lovage contains a large number of nutrients. It is packed full of vitamin C, quercetin, and a variety of B vitamins. Lovage provides both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection, making this delicious microgreen a delicious treat to include in your immune boosting arsenal. You can use it in your favorite dishes or make a delicious and soothing tea with lovage.
Lovage microgreens are easy to grow and can be harvested a week or two after planting. Lovage microgreens, or micro lovage, can be enjoyed throughout the year when our easy to understand instructions are followed.
Our microgreen profile table provides you with all the pertinent information you need to grow lovage microgreens. You will find information on the flavor, growing time, and information on how easy it is to grow micro lovage.
| Attribute | Profile |
| Flavor | Lovage microgreens taste like a combination of celery and parsley with a salty background. |
| Pre-Soak (Yes/No) | No – Lovage microgreen seeds do not need to be presoaked before planting; however, soaking can speed up germination. |
| Color | Micro lovage has bright green stems and leaves. |
| Germination Time | Lovage microgreens have a long germination period of 6 to 14 days. |
| Harvest Time | Your lovage microgreens will be ready to harvest in about 18 to 24 days after planting. |
| Green Thumb Level (1-5) | 3 – Because of the long germination period, we rate this microgreen as medium difficulty. |
Don't let the slow germination rate of micro lovage keep you from planting these tasty microgreens. Instead, let it work in your favor. Plant multiple trays of lovage microgreens spaced about two weeks apart to keep fresh lovage microgreens in your refrigerator.
Most microgreen gardeners have questions, especially when growing a new microgreen for the first time. We have gathered the most frequently asked questions about micro lovage and have answered them.
Like most microgreens, lovage microgreens do not regrow. For best results, harvest an entire grow tray of micro lovage and then compost the roots, growing medium, and any remaining microgreen stems.
Lovage microgreens are one of the slowest growing types of microgreens due to the extended germination times. On average, you can expect to harvest micro lovage approximately 18 to 24 days after planting.
Lovage microgreens taste similar to parsley and celery with a salty background. This herb is perfect for stuffing, soups, and stews.
Lovage has been grown for centuries. Today, we recommend growing micro lovage in a soilless growing medium in grow trays. When you follow our directions, you will be rewarded with a large harvest of delicious lovage microgreens.
There are some great microgreen starter kits on the market. A starter kit will provide you with the supplies needed to begin growing microgreens. We recommend using the Deluxe Microgreens Starter Kit from True Leaf Market.
You may have some of the items needed for growing microgreens on hand. Here is a list of the items that you will need to successfully grow lovage microgreens.
Although not necessary, you can soak your lovage microgreens for about 6 to 12 hours to reduce the time it takes for germination. For best results, we recommend using a pint sized mason jar with a screw top lid like this one.
Growing lovage is not difficult when the correct growing medium is used. Many microgreen growers do not consider the importance of choosing the correct growing medium. An effective growing medium will be fine grained and will hold the right amount of water while reducing the risk of root rot and other soilborne diseases. Here are our top two recommendations.
We prefer coconut coir more than seed starting medium for a number of reasons. Coconut coir is a renewable resource made from the husks of ripe coconuts. The husks are ground into a fine grained growing medium. Coconut coir is pH neutral and can hold a lot of water without increasing the risk of mold, mildew, and other diseases that plague plants.
Seed starting soil is a fine grained growing medium that contains everything your microgreens need to grow strong and healthy. When choosing a seed starting medium, it is best to opt for an organic growing medium like the one listed below.
You will need three trays for your lovage microgreens. You will need two trays without drainage holes and one tray with drainage holes. We recommend using 10 inch by 20 inch grow trays; however, there are other grow tray sizes available.
The tray with drainage holes will be used to hold your growing medium and seeds. This tray allows you to water from the bottom up, which reduces the risk of soilborne diseases like mold and mildew.
You will place your tray with drainage holes inside one of the trays without holes. This setup allows your microgreens and growing medium to slowly absorb water without the risk of overwatering or disturbing the delicate roots of your lovage microgreens.
A simple misting bottle allows you gently water delicate microgreens without disturbing the seeds and soil.
A full spectrum LED grow light provides your microgreens with the light they need to grow consistently and healthy.
A heating mat is optional; however, it ensures your soil remains at the perfect temperature to encourage germination.
A microgreen planting rack allows you to utilize the vertical area of your home. The planting rack will contain multiple shelves that allow you to hold your grow trays, lights, heating mats, and circulating fans in a small area.
Circulation fans help to increase airflow and decrease the risk of moisture related diseases. These small fans gently circulate the air and improve the health of your microgreens.
If you are looking for the best seed for micro lovage, look no further than the seeds listed below. These seeds will help ensure you grow a bountiful, delicious crop.
Lovage Microgreen Seeds – Mountain Valley Seed Company's lovage microgreen seeds are non-GMO seeds. With its high germination rate, it remains one of the top lovage seeds on the market.
Growing lovage microgreens is not difficult when you follow our instructions. Each step is explained in detail to help ensure your success. Before you begin, gather your supplies and read the instructions to familiarize yourself with the planting and growing requirements. Then, when you are ready, plant your seeds and in just a few weeks, enjoy the bounty of your efforts.
Once you have gathered your supplies, it is time to prepare your trays for planting your lovage microgreens. Grab your growing medium and a tray with drainage holes and a tray without drainage holes and get ready to begin your adventure in growing lovage microgreens.
Place your growing medium inside the tray with drainage holes. Grab a piece of cardboard and press the growing medium down gently. Then, add more soil until the soil level is just below the top of the growing tray.
Next, you will need to get your growing medium saturated. There are two methods that can be used to wet the soil. Our preferred method is to place the growing tray with drainage holes in a couple of inches of water and allow it to soak up the water for at least thirty minutes.
Conversely, you can use your misting bottle to wet your soil. Spray until the growing medium is wet. Wait fifteen minutes so the growing medium can absorb the water. Repeat the process four or five times to ensure your growing medium is thoroughly saturated.
After the soil is ready for planting, place the tray with drainage holes inside a tray without drainage holes. This setup will let you water the soil during and after the germination process from the bottom up.
Once you have saturated your growing medium, it is time to plant your microgreen seeds. We recommend using a herb shaker bottle like this one to sow your lovage microgreen seeds.
You will need 0.8 ounces of lovage microgreen seeds per 10 inch by 20 inch tray. Shake the tiny seeds across the entire surface of the tray evenly, ensuring the seeds are spread to all four corners.
Gently sprinkle a handful of soil across the tray to barely cover the seeds. Pat down gently with your hands.
In order for seeds to germinate, they must be subjected to pressure and darkness. We can mimic this with the third lid and some type of weight.
Now that your seeds are planted, invert the remaining tray without drainage holes on top of your soil and seeds. This will prevent light from reaching your seeds during the germination process.
Next, grab a weight, a heavy book, or a large stone and place it on top of the inverted tray to mimic the pressure a seed would have to push through if it were planted in the ground. Don't worry the weight won't hurt your seedlings. In fact, it will help your microgreens grow strong and healthy.
You will then need to place your grow tray on your heat mat. Turn the heat mat on so the soil temperature remains a constant 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat mat will remain on until it is time to remove the blackout dome.
Because lovage microgreen seeds take a long time to germinate, you will need to check the moisture level daily. If the soil begins to dry out, pour a cup of water into the bottom tray. Allow the growing medium to soak up the moisture for 30 minutes. Then, pour off any remaining water.
On average, it will take your lovage microgreens about two weeks to germinate. When 90 percent of your microgreen seeds have germinated, you can remove the weight and the blackout lid. Then, place the lovage microgreens under your grow lights.
When you first remove the blackout lid, your microgreens will be white or whitish yellow. Don't worry, once the microgreens spend some time under your grow lights, they will green up quite quickly.
Your microgreens should be within 12 inches of your grow light to ensure the proper development of chlorophyll. This process known as photosynthesis occurs quickly once your microgreens are exposed to full spectrum LED grow lights.
You will want to keep your grow lights on for about 12 to 16 hours each day. In addition to light, your microgreens do require at least 8 hours of darkness each day.
Circulation fans help to increase the airflow between each plant. This is essential to the health of your lovage microgreens as microgreens are sown very close together.
Place your microgreen circulation fans on your grow rack. Make sure that the fans are positioned so they blow across the tops of your microgreens. You do not want the airflow to blow across the surface of the soil as this will cause the soil to dry out prematurely.
Lovage microgreens take 18 to 24 days to be ready to harvest. Lovage microgreens are ready to harvest when they reach about two to three inches high, and the first set of true leaves have formed. This will ensure that the microgreens have developed their flavor while the maximum nutrients remain.
Because microgreens develop differently based on lighting, moisture levels, and circulation, you will need to taste the lovage microgreens daily. When they are at the height of perfection, it is time to harvest your microgreens.
To ensure that your microgreens remain crisp and increase the storage lifespan of lovage microgreens, withhold water for at least 12 hours before harvest.
To increase the lifespan of your lovage microgreens, you must work quickly to reduce air exposure. Furthermore, you want to avoid crushing the delicate microgreens as this can impact the flavor and lifespan of your microgreens.
All you need to harvest lovage microgreens is a sharp knife or a sharp pair of scissors, a few clean, dry paper towels, and a storage bag or box.
Place the paper towels on your countertop. Then, working quickly, cut your lovage microgreens slightly above the soil level. As you cut your microgreens, place them in a single layer on the paper towels.
Once the entire tray has been harvested, it is time to place your lovage microgreens in a storage container. Avoid getting your microgreens wet as this can shorten the life expectancy of your micro lovage. Finally, only harvest one tray at a time so the microgreens aren't exposed to the air for an extended period of time.
Lovage microgreens can be stored in a storage bag or storage container. The most important thing is that the storage container or bag is airtight.
Once you have harvested your lovage microgreens, gently wrap them in a clean, dry paper towel and place them in the storage container. Make sure you do not bruise the lovage microgreens while placing them in your chosen storage container.
Place the lovage microgreens in the refrigerator immediately. When properly stored at a temperature of 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, your microgreens will last approximately two weeks.
Lovage microgreens are easy to grow, filled with nutrients, and delicious. Lovage has been grown for centuries and is loved for its unique flavor. Add lovage microgreens to your favorite soups, stews, or stuffing.
