# How do modify the height of \depedge inside dependency-block?

I want to draw dependencies between words in a sentence. I am using dependency in order to do so. However, the edges in the 3rd and 4th level consume quite a lot of space which is why I'd like to move them down a little bit but above or edge above do not work. One does only move the label, the other does nothing.

\begin{figure}[!htb]
\centering
\begin{dependency}
\begin{deptext}[column sep=0.025em]
The \& food \& was \& lousy \& - \& too \& sweet \& or \& too \& salty \& and \& the \& portions \& tiny \&. \\
\end{deptext}
\deproot[edge below]{4}{ROOT}
\depedge{2}{1}{det}
\depedge{4}{2}{nsubj}
\depedge{4}{3}{cop}
\depedge{4}{7}{amod}
\depedge{7}{8}{cc}
\depedge{10}{9}{dep}
\depedge{7}{10}{conj}
\depedge[above=-10mm]{4}{11}{cc}         % Only moves the label
\depedge{13}{12}{det}
\depedge{14}{13}{dep}
\depedge[edge above=-15mm]{4}{14}{conj}  % Does nothing
\end{dependency}
\end{figure}


which generates:

How can I modify the "height" of the edges?

If you have tikz-dependency version 1.2 or above, you can simply use edge height:
\depedge[edge height=3cm]{4}{14}{conj}

Otherwise, use edge unit distance:
\depedge[edge unit distance=2ex]{4}{14}{conj}