When to Plant Savory in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow April to July. Right now in October it is out of season. The next sowing month is April.

Planting window
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...
Days to harvest
50 days
Sunlight
Full sun for both types.
Water needs
Moderate. Allow to dry between waterings. Less water-demanding than parsley but more than...
Spacing
25cm apart, 35cm between rows
Soil pH
6.5-7.5

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This 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.

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.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Tropical

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Savory sowing time in Cairns?

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 22.5°C (optimal range: 18–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

What this month normally looks like

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.

How to Grow Savory in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

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. Winter savory is a Mediterranean perennial that hates wet season humidity and soggy soil, so it often dies over summer. Plant it in a pot or a raised, gritty bed in the dry season, and keep it on the dry side.

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

Tropical Growing Tips for 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

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 tropical zone this October: Ginger, Lemongrass, Basil and Okra.

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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 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.

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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.