Garden savory is widely used in the national cuisine of many countries of the world. He is loved in Georgia, France, Iran and Hungary. It is good in vegetable, fish and meat dishes. In Georgia it can be called kondari, in Moldova - chimbru, the Bulgarian name - chubritsa, in Armenia it can be called citron, in Uzbekistan - dzhambul.

Description

Garden savory, or fragrant savory (Satureja hortensis) is an annual plant of the Lamiaceae family. It is widespread throughout the world, but southern Europe and Central Asia are considered its homeland. The root of the plant is a thin long (up to 15 cm) cylinder. Thin stems grow and branch from the very base of the root. The stem is 30 cm long. It has small (1.5-2.5 cm) linear leaves with sharp tips. The color of the stem is brown with a purple tint, the leaves are dark green. Inflorescence of 3-5 flowers of lilac shade, loose, elongated. Flowers on short stalks that grow in the leaf axils. The shape of the flower is a wavy calyx with short stamens in the throat. Blooms in July-September, forms a fruit - a small triangular box.

Garden savory

Since the plant has a very strong aroma, it is an excellent honey plant. Savory is often confused with thyme, aka thyme. Unlike thyme, savory has a pungent spicy smell and taste. Called "pepper grass" savory fully justifies this name. What is this herb - garden savory?

Varieties

In the Lamiaceae family there are types of savory that are used in medicine and cooking:

  • Mountain Savory (Satureja montana) is a perennial plant, a shrub that grows up to half a meter in height. His flowers are white. This type of savory is widely used in soap making, perfumery, folk medicine and cooking. The high content of essential oils in young leaves and shoots suggests a very careful addition of mountain savory to food, so that its strong aroma does not interrupt all other tastes and smells of the dish.
  • Lemon Savory (Satureja biflora) is a perennial with creeping shoots, on which pinkish, strong-smelling flowers bloom profusely. Their aroma is reminiscent of the smell of lemon and oregano.
  • Savory Cretan (Satureja thymbra) is a small shrub with very rigid branches. It blooms with inconspicuous grayish-white strong-smelling flowers, their aroma resembles oregano and thyme.
  • Savory Douglas (Satureja douglasii) is a perennial with creeping rigid branches. It grows up to 1.5 meters wide and up to 10 meters high. It blooms with small whitish-lilac flowers, the smell of which resembles lemon and mint.
  • Rod-shaped savory (Satureja viminea) is a perennial low shrub with rigid branches covered with bright green shiny leaves. More than others it is used in landscape design. When blooming, it spreads a strong mint aroma around.

Landing

All types of pepper grass will thrive and thrive in rocky mountain soil. Loam, sandy loam, loose, well-drained soil will also please this decorative spice. On fertile soils with a neutral pH, garden savory will not only grow a large shrub of green mass, but will also enhance its taste.

Savory is not suitable for planting in the shade of garden trees and bushes.

The landing site must be chosen open and well-lit by the sun. Savory is not suitable for planting in the shade of garden trees and bushes.It is also badly affected by the roots of weeds that can capture a large space underground. Before planting savory in the garden, the planting site must be prepared by digging it up in advance and removing all weeds. Savory is used not only as a herb for flavoring, but also its decorative sides are widely used in landscape design.

Reproduction

Since garden savory is an annual, most often its reproduction occurs by self-seeding. Once having planted it in the garden, you can use its numerous offspring for many years.

However, there are so many varieties of savory, and their flavors are so rich that it is possible to grow several varieties of savory in the garden. For sowing outdoors, it is best to choose late spring, when the sun's rays have sufficiently fried the topsoil.

Garden savory is best planted in late spring

Also, for an earlier harvest, pepper grass seeds are sown in containers in closed greenhouses, then the grown plants are planted in open ground.

Important! The main thing is to protect young seedlings from frost, since savory does not tolerate low temperatures or sudden temperature changes.

Many herbal lovers grow savory in flower pots or windowsill containers. For growing in indoor conditions, the sowing period does not matter much, the main thing is to provide the plant with sufficient light, heat and moisture.

Shallow grooves (1 cm) are made on the bed for sowing garden savory. After sowing, the seeds are covered with soil on top, which is carefully tamped. For additional food, you can pour a small layer of humus or manure on top.

Garden savory planting

To get healthy bushes of savory, you need to take care that beans or cereals were previously grown on the site of its planting, which will enrich the soil and drown out weeds.

Since the plant requires a large amount of fertile land for development, it is impossible to plant savory close to each other. The row spacing should be at least 15 cm; before planting, the soil must be fertilized with rotted manure or complex fertilizers.

For the fastest germination of seeds, they are soaked in warm water a day before sowing.

About the benefits of garden savory

Before using garden savory for medicinal or culinary purposes, you need to know its chemical composition:

  • carvacrol;
  • cymene;
  • borneol;
  • cineole;
  • essential oils;
  • retinol;
  • thiamine;
  • pyridoxine;
  • vitamin C;
  • potassium;
  • phosphorus;
  • iron;
  • copper;
  • phytoncides;
  • mineral salts;
  • slime and tar.

In folk medicine, the medicinal properties of garden savory are used for:

  • increasing potency;
  • improving the functioning of the genitourinary system;
  • treatment of vesiculitis, prostatitis, epidermitis, urethitis;
  • effects on the gastrointestinal tract for disorders, fermentation, bloating;
  • stimulating gastric secretion;
  • fight against internal parasites;
  • increasing the concentration of fatty acids in the body, which significantly reduces the risk of cancer;
  • treatment and prevention of female genital diseases;
  • as an expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic and antibacterial agent;
  • as a tonic and stimulating agent for brain activity.

In cosmetology, essential oils contained in garden savory are also widely used. It is used to strengthen hair follicles with alopecia. Hair after rinsing with savory infusion becomes silky and strong.

Interesting! The antiseptic properties of the plant are used to combat acne, eczema, and boils. It is often recommended for skin rejuvenation and regeneration procedures.

There are some contraindications for the use of garden savory. It can not be consumed either in food, or in the form of infusions or decoctions, and also as a cosmetic product for:

  • peptic ulcer;
  • atrial fibrillation;
  • cardiosclerosis;
  • diseases of the thyroid gland;
  • pregnancy;
  • allergies.

In many countries around the world, savory is primarily a spice. Its peppery taste and smell are used in the preparation of meat rolls, steaks, sausages.Savory will perfectly complement dishes from fried potatoes, mushrooms, various stews and marinades.

Diseases and pests

Many fungal infections and garden pests bypass savory. However, it can be affected by powdery mildew and rot. This can happen with improper plant care. Too much moisture and stagnation in the root system will lead to the death of the plant. It is very important to observe the watering regime.

White spots on the leaves of savory indicate the appearance of a fungal disease - powdery mildew. The accumulation of mycelium on the leaves leads to their rotting and death of the plant. At the first symptoms, it is necessary to spray the garden savory with a solution of Actellik.

Collecting and drying pepper herbs

Harvesting garden savory for the winter should be started even before it blooms. This is the most optimal time for picking the leaves of the savory, until they acquire a strong bitterness. During this period, savory gains the maximum amount of nutrients.

Drying garden savory

The harvesting takes place on a warm sunny day. No more than 20% of the stems are cut from the bush so as not to shock the plant. The cut stems are knitted in small bunches and hung out to dry under a canopy. Storage takes place in a dark, dry, well-ventilated area.

Kondari herb (another name is garden savory) is a wonderful spice and medicine.