Saltwort in Zone 8a & 8b
Salsola komarovii
Yes, saltwort grows in zones 8a and 8b. Plant it outside Mar 25–Apr 1.
When to plant saltwort in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 25–Apr 1 |
| Estimated harvest | May 9–May 16 (~45 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of saltwort in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilApr 8–Apr 15
- BorageMar 25–Apr 1
- DillMar 18–Mar 25
- RosemaryApr 8–Apr 15
- American GinsengMar 25–Apr 1
- AniseMar 25–Apr 1
Saltwort is a Japanese salt-marsh green with a crisp, briny bite similar to samphire, adapted to salty soil but perfectly happy growing in ordinary garden dirt too.
How saltwort fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Saltwort needs about 45 days from sowing to first harvest.
Saltwort planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b 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 | Not usually | May 20–May 27 | Jul 4–Jul 11 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 30–Jun 6 | Jul 14–Jul 21 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 15–May 22 | Jun 29–Jul 6 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | May 10–May 17 | Jun 24–Jul 1 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 25–May 2 | Jun 9–Jun 16 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Apr 10–Apr 17 | May 25–Jun 1 |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Not usually | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 9–May 16 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 15–Feb 22 | Apr 1–Apr 8 |
| 10a & 10b | Not usually | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 16–Mar 23 |
| 11a & 11b | Not usually | Jan 1–Jan 8 | Feb 15–Feb 22 |
Harvest dates are about 45 days after the sow or plant-out date.
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 saltwort.
Where to buy saltwort seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's saltwort seeds)
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing saltwort" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Saltwort in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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