When to Plant Lovage in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Lovage guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Feb
- Days to harvest
- about 13 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 100 cm apart
Lovage is a tall, long lived perennial herb. The leaves taste like strong celery or parsley, and every part of the plant can be used in cooking. It grows from 60 cm to 2 m and needs room.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Lovage included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Lovage in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, rich soil with good drainage (Gardening Australia). Dig in aged manure or compost (The Seed Collection).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun in cool climates. Part sun with protection from afternoon heat in warmer climates (Gardening Australia). At least 3 hours of full sun a day (The Seed Collection).
- Spacing
- 100cm apart
- Watering
- Water well for the best flavour and to avoid bitterness (Gardening Australia). Water deeply when the soil is dry about 5 cm down, and avoid wetting the foliage (The Seed Collection).
Tropical Growing Tips for Lovage
Recommended Varieties
- Lovage
Key Challenges
- Heat and humidity
- Wet season drainage
Pro Tips
- Give afternoon shade
- Plant on a mound
Pests and problems for Lovage in Tropical
Harvesting Lovage
When ready: About 90 days to maturity (The Seed Collection). Seeds of Plenty says 120.
How to harvest: Pinch off outer leaves as needed, leaving some on the plant (The Seed Collection). All parts of the plant can be used (Gardening Australia). Harvest seed when the heads turn brown and hang them upside down in a paper bag in a dry airy place (The Seed Collection).
Storing and preserving lovage
How to keep it
- Use fresh or save the seed. Seeds work as a spice (Gardening Australia). No Australian source on drying or freezing leaves was read.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Lovage
When do you plant lovage in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
Can you grow lovage all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Lovage in Cairns?
Gardening Australia says sow in spring and summer in all climates, and give part sun with protection from afternoon heat in warmer areas. The Seed Collection chart is the same for every climate. Wet season humidity and heat are hard on it, so shade and good drainage matter.
What soil temperature do Lovage need?
Lovage germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Lovage are ready to harvest?
About 90 days to maturity (The Seed Collection). Seeds of Plenty says 120.
What are the best Lovage varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Lovage.
Are lovage salt tolerant?
Only a little. Lovage are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.