Winter Savory in Zone 8a & 8b
Satureja montana
Yes, winter savory grows in zones 8a and 8b. Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 11 and plant out Apr 1–Apr 8.
When to plant winter savory in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Feb 4–Feb 11 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 1–Apr 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 30–Jul 7 (~90 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of winter savory in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilApr 8–Apr 15
- BorageMar 25–Apr 1
- RosemaryApr 8–Apr 15
- DillMar 18–Mar 25
- CatmintApr 1–Apr 8
- Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant)Apr 1–Apr 8
Winter savory is the perennial half of the savory family, a low, woody-based plant with a sharper, more resinous flavor than annual summer savory. The trade for that stronger flavor is a plant that survives winter outdoors in zones 4-8, coming back on its own rather than needing to be sown fresh every spring.
How winter savory fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Winter savory needs about 90 days from transplant to first harvest.
Winter Savory 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a & 4b | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 22–May 29 | Aug 20–Aug 27 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 22–Mar 29 | May 17–May 24 | Aug 15–Aug 22 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 7–Mar 14 | May 2–May 9 | Jul 31–Aug 7 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 20–Feb 27 | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jul 16–Jul 23 |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Feb 4–Feb 11 | Apr 1–Apr 8 | Jun 30–Jul 7 |
Harvest dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
No well-established companions for winter savory.
Where to buy winter savory seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries winter savory seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing winter savory" 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 →
Pin this for later
Growing Winter Savory in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest