When to Plant Savory in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow September to November. Right now in September you can sow.

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 Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs 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 Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - S/D S/T/D T -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 18–30°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Savory in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Summer savory: sow Oct-Dec. Winter savory: plant Sep-Nov.

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

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Savory

Recommended Varieties

  • Summer savory
  • Winter savory (cold hardy)

Key Challenges

  • Short season for summer savory

Pro Tips

  • Winter savory is cold-hardy and reliable
  • Summer savory as a quick annual crop

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

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

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Common 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:

Does savory grow all year round in Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Sep to Nov. 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.