Summer Savory Seeds — Satureja hortensis

A Peppery Little Herb for Summer Cooking

Summer savory (Satureja hortensis) is a leafy annual herb with slender green leaves and a warm, peppery flavour. Snip a few sprigs for beans, lentils, roasted vegetables, or a homemade herb blend. It’s a useful little addition when you fancy something different from the usual basil and parsley.

Grow it in a sunny herb patch or a pot near the kitchen, where regular picking encourages fresh, branching growth. This is annual summer savory, rather than the woody perennial winter savory.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🌿 Aromatic foliage — narrow leaves with a warm, peppery flavour
• 🫘 Lovely with beans — a traditional kitchen pairing for bean and lentil dishes
• 🍽️ Versatile cooking herb — use with vegetables, stuffings and sauces
• 🪴 Suitable for pots — handy for sunny patios and small herb gardens
• ✂️ Fresh or dried — pick leafy sprigs for dinner or dry some for later
• ☀️ Summer annual — enjoys warmth, sunshine and free-draining soil

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow under cover in spring, or directly outside once the risk of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Choose a sunny, sheltered position with well-drained soil.

Surface sow the small seeds on moist seed-raising mix and press gently into place. Leave uncovered or add only a very light dusting of fine mix, as light assists germination. Keep evenly moist without waterlogging. Germination usually takes approximately 7–21 days at around 18–21°C.

Prick out seedlings once large enough to handle, harden off gradually, and plant approximately 20–25 cm apart. If growing in a pot, use quality potting mix and a container with drainage holes.

Water young plants regularly until established, then water during dry spells. Pinch growing tips to encourage branching and avoid excessive feeding, which can produce soft growth.

Begin harvesting lightly once plants are established, taking small leafy sprigs and leaving plenty of foliage for regrowth. For drying, cut stems just before flowering and hang small bunches in a dry, airy place out of direct sunlight. Leave a few stems to produce their small summer flowers if you wish.

What’s in the Packet

Each packet contains 50 Summer Savory seeds (Satureja hortensis).

📄 Want to go even deeper? The CHBotanics Propagation from Seeds Manual — Professional Edition — a comprehensive digital PDF covering sowing times, germination, spacing, and much more across dozens of flower and vegetable species, is available as an instant download. 🌱😊