Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis)

A delicious and easy to grow herb that was once very popular and is now a well-kept secret. The spicy lavender flavor goes wonderfully with beans and salads. Also popular as a digestive aide

How to Grow Summer Savory from Seed

Bed Preparation

Summer Savory is an annual herb that grows best in in full sun to partial shade locations. Pick a spot that gets at least 4 hours of sunlight a day.

Planting

Seeds are very small and require depth no deeper than ⅛” when planting. Use your finger or a gardening tool to make very shallow indentions in the soil where you will plant the seed. Seeds should be planted 2-3” apart. Pat soil very lightly over the indentions to cover the seed. The seeds will sprout in 10-14 days. Thin the seedlings as they grow so that only the largest and strongest remain. Space mature plants 6-9” apart. Water the plant regularly to keep its leaves cool and the soil moist.

Harvest

Summer Savory is a unique culinary herb with a spicy, lavender-like taste. It sometimes is compared to a floral tasting oregano and is often used in bean dishes and soups. You can harvest the flavorful leaves by using a pair of scissors or pruning shears to cut branches off of the plant as it matures. Trimming the plant regularly will help it bush out and become less “leggy”.

How to Save Summer Savory Seeds

When the plants yield small blue flowers, you can harvest the flower heads and removed the seed. Store the seeds in a paper bag with a few punched holes to dry. Seeds should be viable for 1-2 years.