How to Grow Summer Savories

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Sowing	0	RHS: sow indoors in spring, germinating around 20°C (68°F) with seedlings within 2-3 weeks; plant out after hardening off, spaced at least 20cm (8in) apart. NC State: propagated readily from stem cutting or seed, rapid growth, harvestable within 2 months of sowing.
Establishment	3	Full sun and free-draining conditions, in the ground or containers (RHS); NC State adds it does not do well in damp soil or shade, preferring rich light soil with plenty of moisture though not fussy otherwise. Grows to a bushy 30cm (1ft) tall and wide (RHS).
Flowering and cutting back	6	RHS: cut back after flowering for a second flush of leaves harvestable into autumn. NC State: cut back as flower buds appear to produce a fresh flush of leaves.
Harvest and end of season	8	RHS: harvest from mid-summer until the plant dies off in autumn -- leaves taste fresher and sweeter before flowering; strip leaves from stems, use fresh or dry by hanging in a warm, dark, well-ventilated place. Being an annual, plants die naturally at season's end: compost them and grow new ones from seed the following spring, or let a few plants set seed to collect and sow (RHS).

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Drainage	Free-draining, never waterlogged (RHS); NC State: high organic matter or loam, good drainage, avoid wet conditions, pH alkaline (>8.0).
Lifecycle	Bushy hardy annual -- genuinely distinct from the perennial Winter Savory (Satureja montana) already in this catalogue, a different species RHS covers on the same combined "Savory" growing guide but with a clearly separate lifecycle (annual vs perennial) and flavour (RHS: summer savory "milder, more delicate" versus winter savory's "earthy, spicy, peppery"). NC State: rapid growth rate, low maintenance, can be harvested within 2 months of sowing.
Edible parts	leaves

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: RHS: harvest from mid-summer until it dies off in autumn; leaves taste slightly fresher and sweeter before flowering. NC State: harvest just before the plant flowers for best flavour; can be harvested within 2 months of sowing.

Storage

RHS: strip leaves from stems, use fresh or dry by hanging in a warm, dark, well-ventilated place.

Summer Savory Photo Gallery

Bee pollination

A bee pollinating a summer savory flower.

A confirmed plant

A labeled summer savory plant with white flowers.

What the research guides add

Summer savory is the quick annual savory, in contrast with the perennial winter savory.

• An annual culinary herb with a mild peppery taste, grown from seed in early spring and harvested in summer when in flower. (NC State Extension)
• It is easy to grow in rich, light soil with plenty of moisture and full sun, though it is not fussy; it does not do well in damp soil or shade. (NC State Extension)
• It is fast-growing and can be harvested within 2 months of sowing, and can be cut back as flower buds appear to produce a fresh flush of leaves. (NC State Extension)
• It is a good companion for onions and beans, its flowers are very attractive to bees, and it is rarely troubled by deer. (NC State Extension)

Sources for this section

• NC State Extension: Satureja hortensis (Plant Toolbox)

Section researched and checked on 25 October 2026 by the SoilCommander Editorial Team. How we check facts: editorial policy.

Sources

The full list of 2 sources behind this guide (North Carolina State University Extension (Plant Toolbox), Royal Horticultural Society) is in the references of our UK guide to summer savory; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.