Savory is considered to be quite easy to care for. A complicated cut is not necessary, especially not for annual summer savory. The perennial and winter-hardy mountain savory places somewhat greater demands on your gardening skills.
When and how should you cut savory?
When cutting savory, harvest summer savory throughout the growing season but before flowering for intense flavor, while mountain savory should be cut back in spring but not too deep into the wood. Flowers are suitable for salads or flower butter.
The differences between summer savory and mountain savory
During the summer months, you can prune and harvest both types of savory according to your needs. Towards the end of the season, you should completely cut off the remaining summer savory that is not winter-hardy and dry the excess if necessary. So you still get something out of it in winter.
The leaves of mountain savory are firmer and more aromatic than those of summer savory. In addition, it can still be harvested in the cold season until the shoot tips succumb to frost.
The best time to cut savory
Savory's flavor is at its most intense relatively close to flowering, but that shouldn't stop you from harvesting your herb when you need it. You should only reserve this time for drying, then you will have a particularly aromatic winter supply.
Mountain savory should be cut back in spring, but not too much into the wood. It will then sprout again and you can start harvesting again after a short time. If you have pruned your savory too much, you will need a little patience until it recovers.
You can use the savory flowers for salads or flower butter. They also make a nice edible decoration on your buffet or plated food. Dried can be used just as well as fresh. If you like to drink herbal tea, then add dried savory flowers to your mixture. Among other things, they have a cough suppressant, appetite and digestive stimulating effect.
Drying savory
You can easily dry savory in small bunches in the fresh air. Hang the bouquets in a warm, dry place for a few days, but not in direct sun. Once the herb is completely dry, the leaves can be easily rubbed off with your fingers.
Using tips for savory:
- Stews
- Vegetables
- Fish dishes
Tips & Tricks
If you prefer milder flavors, try summer savory.
