Savory is a member of the mint family, and you’ll usually run into two main types: the annual Summer Savory and the hardy, perennial Winter Savory (also known as Mountain Savory). Both are absolute rockstars in the kitchen and have a long history as medicinal herbs. The best part? They are super easy to grow right in your own backyard!
Growing Savory in Your Garden
If you’re planning on planting beans this year, you definitely want to get some savory in the ground too. Summer Savory is a bushy, branched annual, while Winter Savory grows as a semi-shrub that can reach about 16 inches tall. Since Winter Savory is a perennial, it’s happy staying in the garden year-round, but both types do great in rows next to your beans or even in pots on a sunny windowsill. Pro tip: planting savory right next to your bush beans can actually help keep black bean aphids away. Talk about a natural bodyguard!
Light and Soil Requirements
Both varieties are sun-worshippers. They love a warm, sunny spot in the garden because the more heat they get, the more intense their flavor becomes. If you’re planting them in the ground, a little protection from the wind is a plus. No yard? No problem! Savory is perfectly happy in pots or window boxes on a balcony.
For the soil, both types prefer it light and slightly alkaline (chalky). Here’s a quick checklist for the perfect environment:
- Low in nutrients
- Rich in humus (organic matter)
- Well-draining
- If your soil is heavy or compacted, mix in some sand to loosen it up
- Avoid standing water at all costs
Savory is pretty tough and can handle a few dry days, but it’ll need a drink eventually. Just be careful not to overwater—soggy roots are a death sentence for this herb. If you’re planting in pots or balcony boxes, make sure to add a layer of coarse gravel at the bottom for drainage before you start.
Winter Care for Savory
Since Summer Savory is an annual, it won’t survive the winter, so you’ll just replant it next spring. Winter Savory, however, is quite hardy. If it’s in the ground, it might just need a light covering of brushwood or evergreen branches during “black frosts” (those freezing days without snow cover).
If you’ve got your savory in pots or balcony boxes, you’ll need to be a bit more careful with winter protection. Containers can freeze all the way through very quickly, which can kill off the root system.
If you have the space indoors, you can bring your potted savory into a bright, cool room—like a basement with windows or a stairwell—for the winter. Just give it a little water every now and then. If the pot has to stay outside on the balcony, wrap it well in fleece or bubble wrap and place it on an insulated base (like wood or styrofoam) in a sheltered corner. Don’t forget to give it a tiny bit of water on days when it’s not freezing!
