In the Garden
Summer savory is a fast-growing annual that provides an abundant supply of leaves, growing quickly to a height of about 12 inches. It has narrow, intensely aromatic leaves that grow in pairs on short, branching stems. The plant tends to be top-heavy when it is mature. In summer, small, pinkish-white flowers appear, attracting bees.
Plant summer savory in an herb garden or in a bed with summer annuals, where it can be replaced with a cool-season annual when it is killed by frost in fall. It also does well in containers.
Soil, Planting, and Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade in the spring after threat of frost has passed. It needs well-drained soil; keep the bed moist, as summer savory will die back in dry soil.
Summer savory is easy to grow, but the plant tends to have thin, weak stems. Set forked twigs and small branches in the plant so that as the plant grows through the branches, they will provide support.
Harvest and Storage
You can begin harvesting summer savory when the plant is only 6 inches tall. Because summer savory grows so quickly, it responds well to frequent pinching back. This gives you continuous harvests while encouraging the plant to sprout new leaves and remain bushy. In the Gulf South, summer savory may go to seed very quickly, providing only a short harvest period.
You can dry cut stems by tying in small bunches or spreading them on screens or paper until thoroughly dry. Then strip the leaves from the stems, being careful to remove all small pieces of woody stems. Store in airtight containers.
Uses
The sharp, spicy taste and strong, pleasant fragrance of summer savory make it very useful for sauces, vinegars, meat stuffing, stews, soups, and vegetables.