How to Grow Winter and Summer Savory Herb Plants

About Growing Savory Plants in Your Herb Garden

While not as common in the home herb garden, Savory herb plants are a welcome addition. These herbs are members of the mint plant family. Both Summer Savory are Winter Savory are best known as a culinary herb. Without a doubt, you will agree this plant is both good-looking and produces an attractive flower. Growing Savory is easy. You will find them in a herb garden, a flower bed, or grown in containers, indoors or out. Try growing Savory as an indoor houseplant.

The leaves have a thyme-like flavor with a slightly peppery taste.

It has both medicinal and culinary applications. The shoots, leaves, and branches are edible.

Types of Savory

There are two types:

Winter Savory – This plant is a perennial. It has a stronger flavor and makes a pretty landscaping plant. Winter Savory grows 6 – 12 inches high and spreads out up to 2 feet. Flower colors include lavender, pink and white. This type is often grown indoors in containers during winter months.

Summer Savory – Summer Savory is an annual. It grows a little taller on upright stems, producing lilac flowers. The flavor is milder than winter savory.

Medicinal and Culinary Uses

Medicinal Uses:

This herb has been used for a wide variety of digestive system applications, including colic and flatulence. At the same time, it is also used for diarrhea, nausea, sore throats, and menstrual disorders. A sprig of the plant can bring fast relief for bee stings.

Culinary Uses:

As a culinary herb, savory is used with chicken and turkey stuffing, in sausages, and salami and egg dishes.

Nutritional Value

100 grams of Savory contains approximately:

272 calories
68.7 g carbs
0 cholesterol
5.9 g fat
45.7 g fiber
6.7 g protein
24 mg sodium

Summer and Winter Savory Plant Growing Specifications

Flowers Bloom: Typically, from June to August in most areas.

Flower Colors:

Summer Savory: White tinged with pink.
Winter Savory: 4White tinged with lilac.

Days to Harvest:

Summer Savory: Pick when the plants are at least six inches tall.
Winter Savory: All year long.

Plant Height:

Summer Savory:12 to 24 inches tall.
Winter Savory: Six to twelve inches tall.

Light Needs: Full sunlight.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0– 7.0.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 – 9.

Ideal Growing Temperature Range:

Summer Savory: 55 to 85° F.
Winter Savory: 45 to 80° F.

Plant Type: Summer Savory is an annual, while Winter Savory is a perennial.

Number of Varieties: 30 to 52.

Native To: Eurasia and North Africa.

Botanical Name: Satueja hortensis

Savory Plant Propagation

These plants are grown from seed. Directly sow Savory seeds into your garden. Sow seeds early in the season. Then, cover the seeds lightly with soil. Shortly, the seeds will germinate. Following germination, keep the soil moist but not wet. For perennial varieties, plant them where they can grow undisturbed for years.

Also, you can start seedlings indoors 6 – 8 weeks before the last frost in your area.

Note: We recommend a heated germination mat, to increase the speed of seed germination. Also, the germination rate is higher.

Seed Planting Depth: 1/4 inch deep.

Ideal Soil Germination Temperature: 60 to 70° F.

Final Plant Spacing: Space seedlings, or thin plants 16-18″ apart.

Days to Germination: 7 – 10 days.

How to Grow Savory Herb Plants

Planting and Soil Needs

Like most other herbs, Savory is easy to grow. They prefer full sun and hot climates. They grow well in average soils. But, they prefer well-drained soil. Prolonged periods of wet and soggy soil willcause root rot.

Help the plants get off to a good start by mixing compost into the planting site. Also, add in a fertilizer high in nitrogen to give the plants a quick boost.

Light Requirement

First, select a location in your garden where your Lavender plants will receive at least six to eight hours or more of bright, direct sun. For optimal growth and maximum blooms, grow them in a location that receives full sunlight from sunrise to sunset.

In hotter regions of the country, place them where they will be partially shaded during the mid-afternoon when the sun’s rays are the hottest.

Place Winter Savory in a location where they will receive as much sun as possible during the winter months.

Fertilizer Needs

Help the plants to get a quick start in the spring by applying a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Then, give them a balanced, general-purpose fertilizer once or twice during the season.

Water Needs

Both Winter and Summer Savory are drought-tolerant plants. Thus, the plants do not require water during most times of the year. But, add water if they appear to wilt during extended periods of drought.

Water the plants deeply at the roots. Then, allow the soil to dry out between watering.

Other Steps

Weeds rob valuable water and soil nutrients. Therefore, keep young Savory plants well-weeded. Then, after they have grown several inches, apply a layer of mulch. This helps to retain soil moisture and gives the plant a neat and tidy appearance.

Prune away dead, damaged, or diseased leaves or stems. At the end of the season, cut perennial plant varieties back by 1/3 to 1/2.

The plants overwinter without any problems in most areas.

In warm parts of the country, Winter Savory overwinters with no problems and little care. You can overwinter perennial plants in a greenhouse in some areas.

Savory plants grow well in planters on your patio or deck. Additionally, you can grow them indoors by a sunny window.

Insect and Plant Disease Problems

Insect and disease problems are infrequent. However, they do sometimes occur.

Aphids, caterpillars, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies are an occasional problem. Treat the plant with an organic insecticidal soap if problems arise. Pick caterpillars off of the plant as soon as you spot them.

Foraging animals do not bother these herbs.

Savory plants can suffer from powdery mildew and root rot. Prune plants to improve air circulation. Use organic fungicides for powdery mildew only if needed.

Root rot occurs in prolonged periods of wet or soggy soil.

Also, see: Plant Problems – causes and cures

How to Harvest Summer and Winter Savory

Harvest leaves after the plant is several inches tall. Pick the leaves in early to mid-morning after the dew has dried off of the leaves. At this time the oils are the strongest. Do not over-harvest perennial winter varieties. At the end of the season, summer annual varieties can be harvested by pulling and drying the entire plant.

After the leaves are dry, remove them from the stems. Finally, store them in an air-tight container out of direct sunlight.

Or, pick and freeze immediately.