Savory (Satureja montana)

La savory It is a fantastic plant that produces a large number of white flowers and also has very interesting medicinal properties. Its easy cultivation and maintenance make it one of the most popular to plant in all types of gardens, or even in pots.

It grows relatively fast and does not need much to be healthy, so it is suitable for beginners and / or those who do not have a lot of free time to dedicate to their plants. At next we will tell you everything about her 🙂.

Origin and characteristics

Savory is an evergreen plant native to the warm-temperate regions of southern Europe, specifically from the eastern basin of the Mediterranean and the coasts of the Black Sea. Popularly it is also known as common savory, wild savory, jedrea, boja, hyssop, royal thyme, olive grass, morquera or savor; and its scientific name is Montana saturation. It grows to a maximum height of 50 centimeters, and is a highly branched subshrub.

Its leaves are opposite, oval-lanceolate, green, and 1 to 2cm long by 5mm wide. The florets are white, are grouped in inflorescences and are about 1,5-2cm wide. Blooms for much of the year, from late spring to early autumn if the weather is good (that is, if it is warm or mild).

What are their cares?

If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

Location

Royal thyme is a plant to be cultivated abroad, preferably in full sun although it can be in partial shade. It has no invasive roots, so you won't have to worry about this.

Earth

• Garden: grows in well-drained soils. If yours is not like that, make a hole of about 50cm x 50cm and mix the earth that you have removed with perlite, volcanic clay or claystone in equal parts.
• Flower pot: you can use universal growing medium mixed with 30% perlite.

Irrigation

You have to water it frequently but without overdoing it. As it does not tolerate waterlogging, you should check -at least at the beginning- the humidity before watering. For this you can use a digital moisture meter, which as soon as you put it in the ground will tell you if it is dry or not, or with a thin wooden stick (if it comes out practically clean when you extract it, you can water).

In any case, in case of doubt, it will always be better to wait a couple of days since it is easier to recover a dry plant than one that has suffered excess watering.

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From early spring to late summer it is advisable to fertilize the savory with Organic fertilizersand guano or manure. Of course, if you are going to grow it in a pot, use liquid fertilizers so that the drainage continues to be good.

Multiplication

It multiplies for seeds and cuttings in spring. The way to proceed is as follows:

Seeds

1. First, a seedling tray is filled (like this one from here) with universal growing substrate.
2. Then, it is watered conscientiously, moistening the entire substrate well.
3. Next, a maximum of two seeds are sown in each socket, and covered with a thin layer of substrate.
4. Afterwards, the seedbed is placed outside, in full sun. If you want, you can put it inside a tray without holes to make better use of the water that is left over after each watering.
5. Finally, a label is introduced in which the name of the plant and the sowing date will have been written.

Keeping the substrate moist - not waterlogged - the seeds will germinate in about two weeks after sowing.

Cuttings

A faster way to get new specimens is by cutting semi-woody branches of about 35cm, impregnating their bases with homemade rooters for cuttings and plant them in individual pots with previously moistened vermiculite. Thus they will emit their own roots in 3-4 weeks.

Plagues and diseases

It's very tough, but if the growing conditions are not suitable, that is, if it is watered excessively for example, or if the environment is too hot and dry, it can be affected by mushrooms I mealybugs respectively. The former are treated with fungicides, but it is best to control the risks; the latter with diatomaceous earth or potassium japan.

Pruning

It is not necessary, just remove the dry, diseased or weak branches at the end of winter.

Planting or transplanting time

Savory is planted in the garden or transplanted in spring. In case of having it in a pot, change it every 2 or 3 years.

Rusticity

Resists weak frosts up to -4ºC, as long as they are of short duration and very punctual.

What uses does it have?

Apart from being used as an ornamental, it also has these other uses:

Medicinal

The savory has stomatal, stimulant, expectorant, carminative and antiseptic properties. It is used to treat gout, rheumatism, intestinal parasites, lack of gastric juices or bronchial ailments. It is also effective as an oral disinfectant.

Culinary

Without a doubt, it is the most popular use. The leaves are used as a condiment for vegetables, fillings and meat dishes; and the fresh stalks or the dried plant to flavor vegetable dishes, sauces, marinades, sausages or meat roasts.

What did you think of the savory?