HerbsLovage
Levisticum officinale
Difficulty: Moderate
Lovage is a hardy perennial herb with celery-flavored leaves, growing 4 to 6 feet tall. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost.
How to grow lovage
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Comparing Lovage vs. Chives vs. Borage
The comparison
Lovage vs. Chives vs. Borage
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Easy | Easy |
| Life cycle | Perennial | Perennial | Annual |
| Germination time | 10–14 days | 7–14 days | 7–14 days |
| Germination temperature | Not yet verified | 18–21 °C64–70 °F | Not yet verified |
| Sowing depth | 6 mm¼ in | 0.5–1 cm¼–⅜ in | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in |
| Spacing between plants | 76 cm2½ ft | Not yet verified | 30 cm12 in |
| Sun | Full sun, partial shade | Full sun, partial shade | Full sun, partial shade |
| Water | Not yet verified | Not yet verified | Low |
| Containers | Not yet verified | Yes | Yes |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy | Hardy | Not yet verified |
| Toxicity to cats | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Toxicity to dogs | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Links |
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- Herbs
- Herbs
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Difficulty: EasyGrows in potsAn easy, hardy perennial in the onion family with mild, onion-flavored leaves and edible flowers. Chives grow from seed or division, in pots or garden beds.
How to grow chives - Herbs
Borage
Borago officinalis
Difficulty: EasyGrows in potsBorage is an easy annual herb grown from seed in full sun. Its cucumber-flavored leaves and flowers should be used sparingly, and the plant is listed as toxic to dogs and cats.
How to grow borage
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Sprouting
Germination time and temperature
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Sowing
Sowing depth and spacing
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Timing
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Light and water
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Space and weather
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Pets
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Fastest to sprout
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Safe around cats and dogs
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
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