When to Plant Savory in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Sow August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is August.
Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Savory guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Two related herbs: Summer savory (S. hortensis) is an annual with a delicate peppery-thyme flavour, traditional with beans. Winter savory (S. montana) is a perennial evergreen subshrub with a stronger, more pungent flavour. Both are underrated in Australian gardens. Summer savory is the more versatile culinarily; winter savory is the more practical grower.
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | D | - | - | - | - |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 22.7°C (optimal range: 18–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Savory in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
When to Plant
Sow Mar-May and Aug-Oct.
- Soil
- Well-drained, light soil. Lean to moderate fertility. Both types dislike wet feet.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun for both types.
- Spacing
- 25cm apart, 35cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate. Allow to dry between waterings. Less water-demanding than parsley but more than rosemary.
Companion plants: Beans (traditional companion), Onion
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Savory
Recommended Varieties
- Both types, drought tolerant
Key Challenges
- Extreme heat
Pro Tips
- Both types handle dry conditions well
- Afternoon shade in extreme heat
Harvesting Savory
When ready: Summer savory: harvest once 15cm+ tall, before flowering. Winter savory: harvest year-round from established plant.
How to harvest: Snip stem tips. Summer savory: cut entire plant at base when flowering begins for maximum harvest. Winter savory: light regular snipping.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon Questions About Savory
When do you plant savory in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): May to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Aug to Oct
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
Does savory grow all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.