When to plant Savory in Subtropical Australia
Subtropical zone — applies to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Tropical · Arid.
Raise savory seedlings from August through November, sowing into trays and transplanting once they are large enough to handle. The seed is tiny, so barely cover it at 3 mm and press it into a fine surface; germination runs 7–21 days with warmth. Move plants out at 40 cm spacing in rows 20–30 cm apart, giving each bush airflow in the humid months ahead. Both summer and winter savory reach usable size in 60–80 days. In Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, the drier spring start gives the strongest, most aromatic plants before summer humidity sets in.
Sowing calendar — subtropical zone
Green months are your sowing window: August to November.
Growing notes
Savory is a Mediterranean herb, so the subtropical challenge is always humidity rather than warmth. Summer savory is an annual and winter savory a woody perennial, but both want full sun, lean soil and sharp drainage. The dominant failure mode across Brisbane and Coffs Harbour is fungal collapse: plants in rich, damp, crowded beds develop root rot or mildew during the wet.
The fix is position and restraint. Plant into gritty, free-draining soil, avoid overfeeding, and hold the 40 cm spacing so air moves freely between bushes. Water at the base in the morning and let the foliage dry before nightfall.
A few extra pointers for this climate:
- Pinch tips regularly to keep growth dense and to delay flowering, which weakens flavour.
- Grow in pots if your garden soil holds water; savory thrives in a well-drained container on a sunny deck.
- For winter savory, cut back hard in late winter to refresh the woody framework each year.
Harvest sprigs as you need them, taking the most through the drier months when the oils are strongest. Overwatered, shaded savory turns leggy and bland, so err on the dry, bright side and the plant rewards you.
Savory at a glance
| Sowing depth | 3 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 40 cm |
| Row spacing | 20-30 cm |
| Germination | 7-21 days |
| Days to maturity | 60-80 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Plant Seedlings |
Common questions
- what's the difference between summer and winter savory in the subtropics?
- Summer savory is a softer annual with a milder, sweeter flavour, while winter savory is a hardy woody perennial with a stronger, more peppery taste. Both grow here, but winter savory copes better with successive humid seasons if kept in free-draining soil.
- why is my savory rotting in Brisbane?
- Almost always wet, warm soil and poor airflow. Savory is drought-adapted and hates humidity around its roots and leaves. Move it to gritty, free-draining soil or a pot, space plants 40 cm apart, and water at the base in the morning only.
- can I grow savory in a pot in the subtropics?
- Yes, and it often does better in a pot here than in the ground. A free-draining container on a sunny deck keeps the roots from sitting wet through the humid summer, which is the main cause of failure in subtropical beds.
- how do I keep savory flavourful?
- Grow it lean and dry in full sun, and pinch out the tips to slow flowering, since flavour weakens once it flowers. Harvest most heavily in the drier months, when the essential oils in the leaves are at their strongest.
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