Growing Hydroponic Savory
Savory comes in two varieties. There is summer savory and winter savory. Summer savory has a distinct peppery/spicy flavor with a subtle sweetness that includes the taste of thyme and mint. It was used for centuries in Europe before pepper became available. Winter savory has an earthier taste with notes of pine and sage, but it is also more bitter. Both are popular as seasonings for a variety of meals, where summer savory is used more frequently on lighter meals like fish, eggs and summer veggies and winter savory more frequently used on heartier meat dishes and root vegetables.
Savory is popular in many herb mixes and has been used throughout history as a replacement for both pepper and salt. You’ll find a variety of herb recipes that use savory in our Homemade Seasoning Blends recipes. When cooking with savory be careful to use only a pinch or two with your dishes to avoid contributing too much bitterness.
Savory grows well in hydroponic systems but doesn’t love excess moisture when it reaches maturity. Using beneficial bacteria in your hydroponic system will help to prevent root rot. Savory can also be a slow grower, so be patient and plan to wait about 2 months to begin harvesting.
Savory is known for healthy amounts of vitamin A, Iron and Manganese. It’s also well known for having excellent antioxidant properties. Some use savory to make tea, and say that it can help with stomach issues including indigestion.
| Hydroponic Savory | ||||
| Germination | Light | EC Range | pH Range: | Time to Harvest |
| 7-14 days | 12-16 hours | 1.8-2.4 | 6.5-7.0 | 2 months |
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Nutrient and Health Info - Savory has nice amounts of vitamin A, Iron and Manganese. It is sometimes used as a tea to help with indegestian and other stomach issues.
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Tips & Tricks - Savory prefers a higher pH range of 6.5 - 7.0. Be patient as it begins to grow slowly, but should fill out nicely over time. Consider using beneficial bacteria in your reservoir to prevent root rot.
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Germination:
As far as germination goes, savory is neither to turtle, nor the hair. Plan on some savory germinating in less than a week, and wait at least two weeks for stubborn seeds to sprout. Using our Seedling Starter Kit or the paper towel method will help to increase the rate and speed of germination.
Light:
Summer savory will prefer more light than winter savory. Too little light, and summer savory may get the impression that fall is coming and it’s time to bolt (produce flowers). Both summer and winter savory will do well with as little as 12 or as many as 16 hours of artificial light per day. Consider keeping summer savory in a place that gets more light, whereas winter savory will do fine towards the edge of your garden or with some shading from other plants.
EC Range:
Savory is another herb that grows well with an EC range of between 1.8 – 2.4. Pair it with other herbs like oregano, cilantro, mint, and sage, or grow it with bok choy, sunflowers, zucchini and more.
pH Range:
Savory prefers a higher pH range of 6.5 and 7.0. If you’re growing it with other herbs and vegetables it is best to keep your pH close to 6.5 (or perhaps a smidge lower) so that it plays well with others.
Nutrients:
Our Green Machine nutrients are terrific with all herbs and leafy greens, and savory is no exception to the rule.
Time to Harvest:
Be patient with your savory and give it up to 2 months before your first harvest. As it ages, it will grow much more quickly, and you will be able to harvest much more. But fortunately, a little bit of savory goes a long way, so not to worry.
Pruning and Harvesting:
Just like all your herbs, use the cut and come again method to harvest savory. Harvest your longest branches first, and leave 3 inches at the base so that it will continue to grow vigorously over time.
Conclusion:
Savory isn’t as popular as other herbs and is used in fewer dishes. But it’s used quite extensively in herb mixes. So, if you’re interested in making your own herb mixes, make sure to include one or two savory plants in your indoor garden.
Check Out Our Savory Recipes!
Let’s grow together!