Summer savory / Bean herb (Satureja hortensis) growing guide

Quick facts

Category: herbs soft
Difficulty: beginner
Days to harvest: 50 to 75 days
Harvest type: continuous production over weeks or months
Spacing: 20 cm between plants

Environment

Temperature: 15–28°C
pH: 6 to 7.5
EC (hydroponic): 1 to 1.6 mS/cm
Daily light: 15 to 22 mol/m²/day

Climate and zones

USDA zones: 3 to 11 (winter low around -40°C or warmer)
Frost tolerance: frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
Season: warm (summer crops, frost-sensitive)

Viable growing environments:

outdoor in growing season (annual)
unheated greenhouse / hoop house
heated greenhouse
indoor (heated home)
indoor hydroponics under grow lights

USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.

Growing systems

Summer savory works in:

deep water culture (rafts)
NFT channels
media bed (ebb and flow)
wicking bed
soil bed
vertical / aeroponic tower

Growing media

The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (summer savory works in the media listed below).

Medium	pH effect	Water retention	Bacterial surface
Rockwool (Mineral wool)	alkaline until pre-soaked	very high	low
Coco coir (Coconut coir)	slightly acidic	high	moderate
Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass)	neutral / inert	very low	low
Soil-based mix (Potting soil)	varies by source	high	high

Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.

Nutrient demand by stage

NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.

Stage	N	P	K	EC target (mS/cm)
seedling	2	1	1	0.8
vegetative	2	1	2	1.2

Aquaponics suitability

Compatible with typical aquaponics nutrient profiles. Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth; supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.

Care notes

An easy annual herb for hydroponic systems. EC 1.0-1.8 mS/cm. pH 6.0-7.5. Temperature: 15–28°C. Moderate to high light (DLI 14-22 mol/m2/day). Any hydroponic system works. From seed to first harvest: 6-8 weeks. Harvest by cutting stem tips; the plant branches freely. The flavor is best just before flowering. For drying: harvest whole stems, hang in bundles or dehydrate at 35–40°C. Dried summer savory retains good flavor for 12+ months. The herb's affinity for beans is genuine: a few sprigs of savory added to a pot of cooking beans improves the flavor noticeably and is reputed (with limited evidence) to reduce the gas-producing effects. In the Bulgarian tradition, dried savory is blended with paprika and salt to create sharena sol ('colorful salt'), a table condiment sprinkled on everything from eggs to bread to grilled meat. Compatible with other Mediterranean herbs (thyme, oregano, marjoram) in mixed plantings. The annual lifecycle means replanting each season, but the fast growth ensures quick harvests. For the best dried product, harvest just as the first flower buds appear and dry quickly in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space.