Growing Summer savory

For starting indoors from March, seed trays on the windowsill or in a greenhouse work well. At least 15 °C, ideally 16 to 20 °C, with a germination time of 14 to 21 days. Plant out from mid-May after the last frosts.

Direct sowing outdoors also from mid-May: scatter seeds thinly and just press them down. Thin to 20–25 cm spacing once seedlings reach about 5 cm. A second sowing in June or late July pays off – younger leaves are more aromatic.

Summer savory needs a full-sun spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Without enough light, the essential oils barely develop and the flavour falls flat. The soil should be loose, well-drained and on the lean side.

Too much fertiliser harms the flavour. On poor soils the leaves become most aromatic. Heavy, waterlogged soils are completely unsuitable – loosen them with sand before planting.

In a herb spiral, summer savory belongs in the upper, dry zone alongside thyme, rosemary and oregano. It also does well in a pot on the balcony or windowsill, as long as the drainage is right.

'Aromata' is an Erfurt-bred variety that grows particularly bushy and productive, with a high essential oil content. 'Saturn' scores with large leaves and a favourable leaf-to-stem ratio, making harvests generous. For less-than-ideal locations, 'Pikanta' is a good choice – this Czech variety proves robust and vigorous even in mixed weather. 'Compact' stays low and compact as the name suggests, ideal for pots and small beds.

Summer savory is low-maintenance. After germination it hardly needs any water – watering close to the soil prevents fungal problems. A single dose of compost at the start of the season is enough; in pots, give a spring feed with herb fertiliser. Nitrogen-heavy feeding costs you flavour. A cut back to about 10 cm before flowering can trigger a second harvest period. Don't sow too densely, or you'll get more stems than leaves.

Summer savory is generally quite robust, especially when the location is right. Slugs reliably avoid the plant, and the essential oils deter many pests. A decoction of summer savory even helps against aphids on other plants.

In too-damp conditions or with too-tight spacing, fungal diseases can appear: downy mildew (Peronospora saturejae-hortensis) is a specific pathogen for savory, while grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) and rust (Puccinia menthae) also occur with care mistakes. On the pest side, there is the green tortoise beetle (Cassida viridis), leafhoppers, and occasionally leaf miner larvae. The best prevention is a sunny, dry location with enough space between plants and no overhead watering.