Small bouquet of lemon savory in a glass jar inside a bright yellow basket

How To Grow Savory Seeds

Updated on Jan 23, 2024
By Baillie Blankenship

Winter (or Mountain) savory (Satureja montana)  is perennial in USDA zones 4-8. A peppery culinary herb that lends delightful piquancy to dishes. Native to temperate regions of Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa, this semi-evergreen herb will want some winter protection in USDA zones 4-6 in order to survive year-round.

HISTORY

This Eastern Mediterranean herb has been used for flavoring many dishes for millennia. Savory is a highly aromatic culinary herb that offers a peppery flavor to a wide variety of dishes.

USES

  • Savory is popular in bean dishes, casseroles, and stuffing.

Close view of dark green savory plant with narrow, closely spaced leaves.

 

  • Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost.
  • Surface sow and gently press seeds into substrate. 
  • Ideal soil temperature for germination is 65-70 F. A heat mat is not recommended.
  • Light aids germination.
  • Seeds should sprout in 7-14 days.
Bunch of savory sprigs with narrow green closely spaced leaves, in a jar of water that is in a bright yellow square container.Bunch of savory sprigs with narrow green closely spaced leaves, in a jar of water that is in a bright yellow square container.

 

  • Transplant outdoors after the last spring frost.
  • Plant in full sun in a spot with well-draining soil.
  • Space plants 8” apart.
  • Savory grows well in raised beds and pots.
  • Provide winter protection such as mulch in zones 4-6 to ensure winter survival.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Savory is not particularly prone to pests. Keep in mind when planting, this is a spreading perennial.
Small bouquet of savory sprigs with narrow, dark green leaves in a small antique clear glass mustad jar next to an old pair of garden shears on an upended wooden box against a yellow and white background..Small bouquet of savory sprigs with narrow, dark green leaves in a small antique clear glass mustad jar next to an old pair of garden shears on an upended wooden box against a yellow and white background..

 

  • Harvest the well-dried seed heads from the plant.
  • Gently break the seedhead open and collect seeds.
  • Separate the seeds from any chaff.
  • Store in a cool, dry, and dark place until you are ready to plant.
Close photo of a bunch of spigs of savory with narrow green leaves in a small vase.Close photo of a bunch of spigs of savory with narrow green leaves in a small vase.