Winter savory
Satureja montana
Also known as: Mountain savory, Sarriette des montagnes, Sariette, Saturei
Quick facts
- Category
- herbs woody
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Days to harvest
- 75 to 90 days
- Harvest type
- cut leaves, plant regrows for repeated harvests
- Spacing
- 30 cm between plants
Environment
- Temperature
- 5–28°C
- pH
- 6.5 to 7.5
- EC (hydroponic)
- 1 to 1.6 mS/cm
- Daily light
- 14 to 22 mol/m²/day
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 5 to 9 (winter low around -29°C or warmer)
- Frost tolerance
- very hardy (survives deep cold)
- Season
- warm (summer crops, frost-sensitive)
Viable growing environments:
- outdoor year-round (in zone)
- outdoor in growing season (annual)
- unheated greenhouse / hoop house
- heated greenhouse
- indoor (heated home)
USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.
Growing systems
Winter savory works in:
- drip / Dutch buckets
- media bed (ebb and flow)
- wicking bed
- soil bed
Growing media
The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (winter savory works in the media listed below).
| Medium | pH effect | Water retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies by source | high | high |
Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC target (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.6 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 |
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended for pure aquaponics. Fish waste alone doesn't provide enough of the nutrients this crop demands (typically potassium, calcium, or boron). It can be grown in a hybrid system where the reservoir is supplemented with hydroponic-style nutrients, but expect to dose actively.
Care notes
An easy, long-lived perennial herb for container growing. Container (10 L) with well-drained media. EC 1.0-1.5 mS/cm (very light feeder). pH 6.5-8.0 (tolerates alkaline conditions). Temperature: 10–28°C (Mediterranean; cold-hardy to zone 5). Full sun (DLI 16-22 mol/m2/day). Growth is slow and compact. Harvest by cutting stem tips. The flavor is strongest in fresh leaves during the growing season but the plant provides harvestable leaves year-round in mild climates because of its semi-evergreen habit. For drying: harvest before flowering, dry at 35–40°C. Compatible in a Mediterranean herb grouping with rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano. Propagation by stem cuttings, division, or seed. The woody, low-growing habit makes winter savory suitable as an edible border or ground cover in herb gardens. A practical perennial that produces indefinitely with minimal care.
Plan a setup with Winter savory
Verified against: rhs-uk, herb-society-of-america, u-of-vermont-extension. Last reviewed 2026-05-15.