Savory

Savory grown in Decatur is treated here as winter savory, a low, woody Mediterranean perennial subshrub in Zone 8a (its soft-stemmed cousin summer savory is a true annual that would need reseeding each year); winter savory builds into a compact, needle-leaved mound over 2-3 years and, like the other woody herbs, is lost more often to soggy winter soil than to cold.

1. 1

   Nursery Start & Planting

   Plant from a nursery start in spring (April-May) or early fall (September-early October)

   You'll see A young nursery plant arrives as a small, wiry-stemmed clump 3-6 inches tall in a 4-inch pot, with narrow, needle-like dark green leaves.

   Do Plant into well-drained soil or a raised bed/grow bag in full sun, at the same depth it was growing in the pot, spaced about 12 inches from its neighbors, and water in well.

   Details
2. 2

   Establishing (Year One)

   First growing season after planting, spring through fall

   You'll see New soft, wiry green growth extends from the base; the plant roughly doubles in size but stays compact and low, without the thick, gnarled woody structure of a mature plant.

   Do Water during dry spells but avoid overwatering, pinch tips occasionally to encourage branching, and hold off on heavy harvesting until well established.

   Details
3. 3

   Mature Growth & Harvest

   Year two onward, main harvest spring through fall, often pickable through mild winters since it stays evergreen

   You'll see The plant forms a dense, low, wiry mound 8-15 inches tall and wide, with narrow, aromatic leaves covering fine woody stems.

   Do Harvest regularly from the soft new growth, always leaving plenty of green leafy stem behind, and never cut back into the bare woody base.

   Details
4. 4

   Bloom & Post-Bloom Shearing

   Blooms June-August

   You'll see Small white to pale pink flowers appear scattered along the stem tips, attracting bees.

   Do Let blooms fully open for pollinators, then shear the plant lightly right after flowering finishes to keep it compact.

   Details
5. 5

   Winter Dormancy

   Late November through February, with occasional nights in the teens

   You'll see Growth slows and leaf color can dull slightly, but foliage stays evergreen on winter savory through typical Zone 8a winters; the real danger sign is dark, mushy stem bases rather than cold-nipped tips.

   Do Stop fertilizing, cut back watering significantly, and make sure drainage is good rather than adding winter protection against cold.

   Details
6. 6

   Renewal & Replacement

   Every 3-5 years, or as the plant gets woody and unproductive

   You'll see An aging plant shows more bare woody stem than leafy green, a hollowed-out or splayed-open center, and fewer new shoots each year even after post-bloom shearing.

   Do Take cuttings from the declining plant before it fails entirely, and plan to replace the original with the rooted offspring.

   Details

Techniques — transplant, prune, propagate, divide, seed