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When to Plant Lovage in Posey County, IN

Posey County, Indiana Zone 7a May

May in the garden — Posey County, Indiana

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost April 8
Avg. first frost October 28
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • First harvests: lovage

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Lovage is a large perennial herb with a celery-like flavor that can grow 4-6 feet tall. All parts are edible including the leaves, stems, seeds, and roots.

Posey County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 203 days.

At an elevation of 596 feet, Posey County receives approximately 40.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Lovage during the growing season.

Posey County, IN (Zone 7a) Long season
203 days
Last Spring Frost April 8
203 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28
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Posey County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (63 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (63 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (71 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Sep 7

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Posey County

How your county's soil matches Lovage's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.0) is within Lovage's preferred range (6.0–7.0).

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Posey County is excellent for Lovage — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). Annual compost additions will help Lovage.

How to Plant Lovage

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Lovage

3
successive plantings in your 203-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 30 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 360 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Lovage

Lovage needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Lovage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Posey County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Lovage Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Lovage needs ~1,160 GDD — county provides 2,943 GDD Excellent fit

Lovage Planting Timeline — Posey County, IN

Lovage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 – Apr 29
Harvest June 24 Jun 24 – Aug 26

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

203 days in Posey County

Growing Tips for Lovage in Posey County

Direct sow Lovage outdoors after April 08 in Posey County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Lovage in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors or direct sow in spring. One plant is usually enough for a family. Harvest outer stems and leaves as needed. Divide clumps every 3-4 years.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lovage in Posey County, IN?

Posey County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 8. Plan your Lovage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Posey County, IN?

Posey County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 8 and first fall frost is October 28.

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Your Posey County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Posey County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Posey County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.