{
  "schema_version": 1,
  "record_type": "plant",
  "slug": "lovage",
  "botanical_name": "Levisticum officinale",
  "categories": [
    "culinary herb",
    "perennial crop",
    "container crop"
  ],
  "common_name": "Lovage",
  "difficulty": "Easy",
  "family": "Apiaceae",
  "growth_habits": [
    "upright",
    "clump-forming"
  ],
  "lifecycle": "Herbaceous perennial",
  "requirements": {
    "container": {
      "minimum_diameter_cm": 30,
      "minimum_volume_litres": 25,
      "plants_per_container": 1
    },
    "harvest": {
      "typical_uk_months": [
        "April",
        "September"
      ]
    },
    "light": {
      "minimum_direct_sun_hours": 4,
      "preferred_direct_sun_hours": 6
    },
    "planting_out": {
      "frost_tolerant": true,
      "label": "Plant",
      "minimum_reliable_temperature_c": 5,
      "note": "Mild-weather establishment allowance, not a winter hardiness limit; harden off seedlings first"
    },
    "soil_ph": {
      "maximum": 7.0,
      "minimum": 6.5
    },
    "spacing": {
      "maximum_cm": 100,
      "minimum_cm": 75
    }
  },
  "summary": "Lovage is a tall perennial culinary herb with celery-flavoured leaves, best given permanent space in moist, well-drained soil in sun or light shade.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "rhs-growing-lovage",
      "publisher": "Royal Horticultural Society",
      "url": "https://www.rhs.org.uk/herbs/lovage/grow-your-own",
      "supports": [
        "establishment",
        "containers",
        "watering",
        "feeding",
        "cutting_back"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "rhs-lovage-profile",
      "publisher": "Royal Horticultural Society",
      "url": "https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/10030/levisticum-officinale/details",
      "supports": [
        "identity",
        "mature_size",
        "hardiness",
        "division",
        "pests"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "illinois-lovage",
      "publisher": "Illinois Extension",
      "url": "https://extension.illinois.edu/herbs/lovage",
      "supports": [
        "growing_conditions",
        "flavour",
        "culinary_use"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "ncsu-lovage",
      "publisher": "NC State Extension",
      "url": "https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/levisticum-officinale/",
      "supports": [
        "light",
        "soil",
        "growth_habit"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "missouri-herbs",
      "publisher": "University of Missouri Extension",
      "url": "https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6470",
      "supports": [
        "general_herb_soil_ph"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "johnnys-lovage",
      "publisher": "Johnny's Selected Seeds",
      "url": "https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/herbs/lovage/lovage-key-growing-information.html",
      "supports": [
        "sowing",
        "germination",
        "seedling_spacing"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "uc-lovage",
      "publisher": "UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County",
      "url": "https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/lovage",
      "supports": [
        "dormancy",
        "harvest",
        "self_seeding"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "illinois-preserving-herbs",
      "publisher": "Illinois Extension",
      "url": "https://extension.illinois.edu/herbs/preserving",
      "supports": [
        "drying",
        "freezing",
        "seed_storage"
      ]
    }
  ]
}