When to Plant Summer savory in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Summer savory guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Apr to Jul
- Days to harvest
- 50 days
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 25 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Two related herbs: Summer savory (S. hortensis) is an annual with a delicate peppery-thyme flavour, traditional with beans. Winter savory (S.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr S/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun S/T/D
- Jul T
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Summer savory in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, light soil. Lean to moderate fertility. Both types dislike wet feet.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- 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.
- Good companions
- Dwarf Beans, Onion, Climbing Beans, Lentils
Tropical Growing Tips for Summer savory
Recommended Varieties
- Summer savory (annual, grow in dry season)
- Winter savory marginal
Key Challenges
- Humidity
- Short window for summer savory
Pro Tips
- Summer savory as a dry-season annual only
- Container growing for winter savory if attempted
Pests and problems for Summer savory in Tropical
Harvesting Summer 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.
Storing and preserving summer savory
How to keep it
- Drying (both types). Hang bundles 1-2 weeks. Both types dry well. Summer savory has more delicate flavour when dried. Keeps: 12 months.
- Freezing. Chop and freeze in ice cube trays with oil. Keeps: 6 months.
- Herbes de Provence blend. Mix dried savory with thyme, rosemary, oregano, marjoram, and lavender flowers. Store in airtight jar. Keeps: 12 months.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Summer savory
When do you plant summer savory in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to Mar, Aug to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Aug to Nov
Can you grow summer savory all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Jul. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Summer savory in Cairns?
Summer savory is a quick annual herb that does well in the dry season when the air is less humid. Pick the leaves before it flowers, and do not bother sowing in the wet.
What soil temperature do Summer savory need?
Summer savory germinate best when soil temperature is between 18°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Summer savory are ready to harvest?
Summer savory: harvest once 15cm+ tall, before flowering. Winter savory: harvest year-round from established plant.
What are the best Summer savory varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Summer savory (annual, grow in dry season), Winter savory marginal.
What grows well with Summer savory?
Good companion plants for Summer savory include: Dwarf Beans, Onion, Climbing Beans, Lentils.
Are summer savory salt tolerant?
Only a little. Summer savory are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.