When to plant Savory in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Raise savory seedlings under cover from October to December and transplant them out once frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Sow the fine seed very shallowly, just 3 mm deep, as it needs light to germinate, and expect a somewhat uneven 7-21 days to sprout. Plants are quick to become useful, maturing in around 60-80 days. Set them out 40 cm apart with 20-30 cm between rows in a sunny, well-drained spot. In cool climates like Hobart, Ballarat and Armidale, raising seedlings first gives this heat-loving herb the head start it needs in a short frost-free window.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

Green months are your sowing window: October to December.

Growing notes

Savory covers both the annual summer savory and the hardier perennial winter savory, and in cool gardens the distinction matters. Summer savory is frost tender and must go out only after the last frost, while winter savory is a woody perennial that survives cold winters once established. The listed sowing window and the frost-hardy rating point to raising plants under cover and setting them out into warm soil, so the key failure mode is transplanting too early into cold, wet ground, where seedlings stall and rot.

The fix is patience: start seed indoors or in a warm frame, harden the young plants off over a week, and only plant out once nights are reliably mild. Sow the seed on the surface and barely cover it, since burying it deeper than 3 mm cuts germination sharply.

Savory wants full sun and lean, sharply drained soil; rich, damp beds produce soft, floppy growth prone to fungal spotting in a humid cool-zone autumn. Space plants 40 cm apart to keep air moving around them. Pick sprigs regularly to keep the plant bushy, and in districts like Canberra and Orange trim winter savory back in late winter to force fresh spring growth. Summer savory is best picked just before it flowers, when the flavour peaks.

Savory at a glance

Common questions

What is the difference between summer and winter savory?

Summer savory is an annual, milder and frost tender, while winter savory is a hardy woody perennial with a sharper flavour that survives cold winters. In cool gardens winter savory will overwinter, whereas summer savory must be resown each spring.

How do you germinate savory seed?

Sow the fine seed on the surface and barely cover it, no deeper than 3 mm, as it needs light to germinate. Keep it warm and moist and expect an uneven 7-21 days. Raising seedlings under cover gives the best results in cool zones.

Can savory survive frost in Canberra?

Winter savory, the perennial type, is hardy and survives cold winters in Canberra and Orange once established. Summer savory is frost tender and must be replanted each spring after the last frost, so choose the type to match your needs.

Why is my savory growing soft and floppy?

Soft, floppy growth comes from soil that is too rich or too wet. Savory wants full sun and lean, sharply drained ground, so ease off the fertiliser and improve drainage to get firm, aromatic growth that resists fungal spotting.

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