herby help please !!

[jono83]

Hi all I'm Jono, been growing my own for years but have been having a problem with 2 herbs in particular, Borage & Lovage.
been trying to grow both these for the past 4 years and cant even get the seeds to germinate, any ideas where I'm going wrong I've tried everything from sowing in situ to trying to force them in the poly tunnel, even tried 4 different seed suppliers in case of dodgy seed, but alas same result every time, totally bewildered me
any advice appreciated
ATB
Jono

[veggiechicken]

Hi Jono and welcome. I've grown both of these from seed without problems. Last year I grew white borage for a change. Only time will tell whether it has self seeded this year.
Lovage spreads quite quickly and if you can find someone with an established plant you may be able to scrounge some offshoots.
I don't remember giving them any special treatment - just in a pot indoors until they germinated then out into the greenhouse, until big enough to go outside.

[taff]

I usually sow in modules, cover with a plastic bag, then remove it when they appear. They're kept in the greenhouse, sown at the end of March for lovage, end of may for borage.
Two patches of it survived the year before last and flowered last year. No sign of it yet this year, but the year before lasts borage self seeded and grows everywhere now.
I imagine I'll have to resow the lovage.

[Peas'n'Kews]

I "planted" borage seeds last year by just sprinkling them roughly were I wanted them to grow and lo and behold, loads of borage plants - they self seed prolifically!

My lovage came from my Dad, and to be honest its a thug, but yummy in salads. I let it self seed once, and it grew like a weed...

Try again, and good luck!

Like VC's idea of getting a clump of lovage off someone who already has some...

[taff]

update - the lovage returned and is becoming thuggy...or as Pots...oopppss....AP!!! puts it....growthy
the borage stated sprouting a couple of weeks ago, the lovage popped up about a week after the above post.
Any luck with them this year?

[eirish]

I've got a huge clump of lovage in my newly adopted garden - it was one of the first things up this spring. And it's survived total neglect for the last few years, plus a meter of snow that was on the ground for a month winter before last. Tough as old boots. It doesn't seem to have seeded itself around, though, thankfully!

If you were closer I'd happily hack out a clump for you. If you don't know anyone who's got some, maybe you could buy a small plant? I've also grown borage from a small plant. Trying seeds this year, hope I have better luck.

[veggiechicken]

I have some lovage that you can pick up from Ferryside, Carms if you want it. Just ask!!