Summer savory (Satureja hortensis) is a versatile annual herb, celebrated for its peppery, thyme-like flavor and aromatic qualities. It’s a popular addition to many culinary dishes, particularly those featuring beans, meats, and vegetables. Beyond culinary uses, summer savory is valuable in companion planting, a practice where different plant species are strategically placed near each other to foster mutual benefits, enhancing overall garden health and productivity.
Why Practice Summer Savory Companion Planting
Integrating summer savory into your garden offers numerous advantages. Its strong aroma acts as a natural deterrent against various common garden pests, reducing the need for chemical interventions by masking crop smells. This herb also attracts beneficial insects crucial for pollination and natural pest control. Its small flowers attract pollinators like bees and predatory insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, which manage pest populations. Growing summer savory alongside certain vegetables can also improve their growth and enhance flavor profiles, supporting sustainable gardening practices.
Summer Savory’s Best Plant Partners
Summer savory forms beneficial relationships with several plants, offering protection and promoting vigor.
Beans and peas are among summer savory’s most well-known companions. Summer savory is particularly effective at repelling the Mexican bean beetle and aphids, common pests that can devastate legume crops. It is also believed to enhance the flavor of the beans themselves, making it an ideal partner for various types of beans, including snap beans, lima beans, and soybeans.
Tomatoes also benefit significantly from summer savory’s proximity. Summer savory helps deter whiteflies, which can be a persistent nuisance for tomato plants. Some gardeners report it improves tomato growth and flavor. Both plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
Members of the allium family, such as onions, garlic, and shallots, are excellent companions for summer savory. Summer savory helps repel pests like onion maggots and discourages aphids that might target these plants. Their strong aroma also contributes to pest deterrence for the savory itself. These plants do not compete for nutrients and can even see their flavor enhanced.
Summer savory is also a good match for cabbage and other brassicas, including kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. Its strong scent is effective at repelling cabbage moths, a common pest. For carrots, summer savory’s aroma can help mask their scent, deterring carrot flies. This low-profile herb does not compete with carrots for sunlight or nutrients, contributing to improved carrot growth.
Herbs like parsley, thyme, and basil share similar growing conditions with summer savory, including a preference for full sun and well-drained soil. They benefit from summer savory’s general pest-repelling properties, creating a mutually supportive herb patch. Flowers that attract beneficial insects, such as borage, yarrow, and lavender, can also be strategically planted nearby. These flowers help create a diverse garden ecosystem that supports pollinators and natural predators, bolstering the health of your summer savory and surrounding crops.
Plants to Keep Away From Summer Savory
Some species are not suitable companions for summer savory and should be kept at a distance. These incompatible pairings can lead to stunted growth, competition for resources, or increased pest problems. Understanding these negative interactions is important for successful companion planting.
Mint is one plant that should be avoided near summer savory. Mint is notoriously invasive, rapidly spreading through its aggressive root system. This vigorous growth allows mint to quickly overtake summer savory, competing intensely for essential nutrients and valuable garden space. To prevent this, grow mint in a separate container, isolating its expansive roots.
Dill and fennel are also not good neighbors for summer savory. These plants are known to stunt the growth of summer savory, hindering its development and overall vigor. They can also compete for resources, leading to weaker plants for both the savory and the dill or fennel.
Cucumbers present another challenge for summer savory. Their specific environmental needs clash. Cucumbers prefer consistently moist soil, whereas summer savory thrives in drier, well-drained conditions. This difference in moisture requirements makes them incompatible companions, as providing ideal conditions for one would be detrimental to the other.
Making the Most of Companion Planting
Successfully integrating summer savory into your garden requires thoughtful planning. Proper spacing is important to allow each plant ample room, ensuring good air circulation and preventing competition for light and nutrients. Maintaining a distance of at least 6 to 8 inches between summer savory and its companion plants is generally recommended.
Consider the sun and soil requirements of all plants when designing your garden layout. Summer savory thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and its companions should ideally share these preferences. Regular harvesting encourages bushier growth, prevents it from becoming leggy, and ensures a continuous supply of fresh leaves for culinary use.
Implementing crop rotation in your garden plan can further enhance the benefits of companion planting. Varying the location of crops each season helps break pest cycles and maintain soil health. General garden planning that incorporates diverse plant species, including summer savory, contributes to a more resilient and productive garden.