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When to Plant Lovage in Love County, OK

Love County, Oklahoma Zone 8a August

What to do in August

Your Love County, Oklahoma garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for August and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost March 26
Avg. first frost November 11
Soil temp (4") 87°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.3 hrs
  1. Start harvesting lovage

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

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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.

Love County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 230 days.

At an elevation of 821 feet, Love County receives approximately 24.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Lovage during the growing season.

Love County, OK (Zone 8a) Long season
230 days
Last Spring Frost March 26
230 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Love County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Lovage Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Aug 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Aug 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 2

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 Love County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.3) overlaps with Lovage's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Lovage will thrive.

How to Plant Lovage

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

Succession Planting Lovage

3
successive plantings in your 230-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

Lovage Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,375 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 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Love 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 ~1,640 GDD — county provides 4,715 GDD Excellent fit

Lovage Planting Timeline — Love County, OK

Lovage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Harvest June 11 Jun 11 – Aug 13

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

230 days in Love County

Growing Tips for Lovage in Love County

Direct sow Lovage outdoors after March 26 in Love 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.

Love County receives only 24" of rain annually. Lovage needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Love County, OK?

Love County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 26. Plan your Lovage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Love County, OK?

Love County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and first fall frost is November 11.

🌱

Your Love County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Love County (Zone 8a). 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 Love County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: August 2026.

Sources & credits

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