Summer Savory in Zone 10a & 10b
Satureja hortensis
Yes, summer savory grows in zones 10a and 10b. Start seeds indoors Dec 19–Dec 26 and plant out Jan 30–Feb 6.
When to plant summer savory in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Dec 19–Dec 26 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 30–Feb 6 |
| Estimated harvest | Mar 31–Apr 7 (~60 days after planting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 5-7 in.
Plant alongside it in zone 10b
These go outside within two weeks of summer savory in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilFeb–Aug
- BorageJan 30–Feb 6
- RosemaryFeb–Apr
- AniseJan 30–Feb 6
- Dandelion (Cultivated)Jan 30–Feb 6
- EpazoteJan 30–Feb 6
Summer savory is a low, bushy annual with a peppery, thyme-adjacent flavor that's traditionally paired with beans so often its German name, Bohnenkraut, translates directly to "bean herb." It's milder and less woody than its perennial cousin, winter savory, and dies back completely each fall rather than persisting.
How summer savory fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Summer savory needs about 60 days from sowing to first harvest.
Summer Savory planting windows in every zone
Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 8–Apr 15 | May 20–May 27 | Jul 19–Jul 26 |
| 3a & 3b | Apr 18–Apr 25 | May 30–Jun 6 | Jul 29–Aug 5 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 3–Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | Jul 14–Jul 21 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | Jul 9–Jul 16 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 14–Mar 21 | Apr 25–May 2 | Jun 24–Jul 1 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | Jun 9–Jun 16 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 11–Feb 18 | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 24–May 31 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 4–Jan 11 | Feb 15–Feb 22 | Apr 16–Apr 23 |
| 10a & 10b (your zone) | Dec 19–Dec 26 | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 31–Apr 7 |
| 11a & 11b | Nov 20–Nov 27 | Jan 1–Jan 8 | Mar 2–Mar 9 |
Harvest dates are about 60 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for summer savory.
Where to buy summer savory seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market (each supplier's summer savory seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing summer savory" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 10b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Summer Savory in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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