Summer Savory in Zone 11a & 11b
Satureja hortensis
Yes, summer savory grows in zones 11a and 11b. Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Nov 27 and plant out Jan 1–Jan 8.
When to plant summer savory in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b 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 | Nov 20–Nov 27 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 1–Jan 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Mar 2–Mar 9 (~60 days after planting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 5-7 in.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of summer savory in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilJan 15–Jan 22
- RosemaryJan 15–Jan 22
- AniseJan 1–Jan 8
- EpazoteJan 1–Jan 8
- Licorice MarigoldJan 1–Jan 8
- Parsley Root (Hamburg Parsley)Jan 1–Jan 8
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 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Summer Savory planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b 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 | Dec 19–Dec 26 | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 31–Apr 7 |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | 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 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Summer Savory in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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