Summer Savory Seeds

Summer savory is the bean herb: a pinch of its peppery, thyme-like leaves lifts broad beans, runner beans and slow stews in a way few other herbs manage. The plant is small and bushy, with narrow, soft green leaves on slender stems and tiny pale lilac to white flowers in late summer that bring in bees. It is milder than its woody cousin winter savory and belongs in herbes de Provence, stuffings, sausages and herb butters. Satureja hortensis is quick and easy from seed and happy in a pot on a sunny step.

Sowing and growing

• Sow indoors March to April, or outdoors from late April to June once the soil has warmed.
• Sow on the surface or barely cover, no deeper than 5 mm; light helps germination.
• Germination takes 7 to 15 days and can be uneven.
• Full sun, in light, free-draining soil; avoid overwatering.
• Grows to about 30 cm tall and 30 cm wide.
• Pick sprigs from about 60 days after sowing; flowers July to September. For drying, cut just before the flowers open.
• Annual: it lasts one season, but leave a few plants to flower and it often self-seeds.

What you receive: a packet of about 300 seeds from Piccolo Seeds, with growing instructions on the back.

Browse our full range of herb, flower and vegetable seeds, or find more plants for bees and pollinators.