Summer savory has a tendency to readily reseed itself. This means that once you have a thriving summer savory plant in your garden, it is likely to produce seeds that will fall to the ground and sprout new plants the following year. This can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on your perspective and the specific circumstances of your garden.
On the positive side, having summer savory reseed itself can be a convenient and cost-effective way to ensure a steady supply of fresh leaves year after year. It saves you the trouble of having to replant the herb every season, and it allows the plant to establish itself in your garden, adapting to its specific conditions and becoming more robust over time.
However, there are instances where you may not want summer savory to reseed itself. For example, if you have limited space in your garden or if you prefer to have more control over which plants grow where, you may want to prevent summer savory from spreading too freely. In such cases, it is important to take measures to prevent the plants from producing and dispersing seeds.
One of the most effective ways to prevent summer savory from reseeding itself is to remove the maturing flower heads. The flowers of summer savory are small and white, and as they mature, they develop seed pods. By carefully monitoring your plants and removing these flower heads before they have a chance to fully mature and release their seeds, you can prevent the herb from self-seeding.
Regular harvesting of fresh leaves can also help to control reseeding. By continually harvesting the leaves, you reduce the plant’s ability to allocate resources towards producing seeds. This can help to keep the plant focused on vegetative growth rather than reproductive growth.
If you do decide to allow summer savory to reseed itself, it is important to keep in mind that the seeds may not always germinate and develop into healthy plants. Factors such as soil conditions, temperature, and moisture levels can all affect the success rate of seed germination. Therefore, it is a good idea to sow some seeds directly into the soil to ensure a consistent crop.
In my personal experience, I have found that summer savory has a tendency to spread quite easily if left unchecked. I once planted a small patch of summer savory in my garden, and within a few years, it had started to pop up in various other areas of the garden. While I initially enjoyed the abundance of fresh leaves, I soon realized that it was taking up valuable space that could be used for other plants. I ended up removing the plants that had spread too far and took extra care to prevent reseeding in subsequent years.
Summer savory does have a tendency to reseed itself, which can be advantageous or problematic depending on your specific gardening preferences and circumstances. Removing the maturing flower heads and regular harvesting of fresh leaves are effective methods to prevent reseeding. However, if you choose to allow summer savory to reseed, it is important to be aware of the potential for it to spread and take appropriate measures to control its growth.
