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How to intercrop savory

How to intercrop savory

Mountain savory (Satureja montana L., 1753) is an aromatic perennial plant of the Lamiaceae family that grows spontaneously in Central-Northern Italy up to the submontane zone and can be found in fields and arid places.
This plant, widely used in cooking or for pharmaceutical purposes, benefits greatly from the practice of companion planting.
The plants with which to associate it are mainly: onion, bean, nasturtium, stevia and marigold. It can also be associated with aromatic plants such as: thyme, rosemary, sage and oregano or with vegetables such as, in addition to beans: peas, tomatoes, carrots and courgettes, or with ornamental plants such as: lavender, santolina and yarrow and, finally, with spontaneous and wild plants, such as: helichrysum and juniper.
Savory is an aromatic and perennial plant that, therefore, lends itself well to association with other plants, both for its ornamental value and for its beneficial properties in the garden. It can be associated with other plants for various purposes, such as improving growth, keeping pests at bay or optimizing the use of space. In detail, we will see the specific advantages of some associations.
– Aromatic plants
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): both share similar needs for draining and sunny soil.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): promotes biodiversity and creates a beautiful aesthetic contrast.
Sage (Salvia officinalis): excellent for creating an aromatic corner with similar needs for sun and soil.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare): ideal for taking advantage of limited space in aromatic gardens.
– Vegetables
Beans and peas: Satureja montana is known for keeping pests (such as aphids) at bay that can attack legumes.
Tomatoes: helps improve the quality of the crop and keeps away soil nematodes.
Zucchini: its ability to repel insects is useful near cucurbits.
Carrots: can help discourage specific pests such as the carrot fly.
– Ornamental plants
Lavender (Lavandula spp.): creates a fragrant corner and attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Santolina: shares the needs of dry soil and creates a nice contrast of colors.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): contributes to the biodiversity of the garden and is compatible with savory for the same water needs.
– Spontaneous or wild plants
Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum): loves dry and well-drained soils, such as Satureja montana.
Juniper (Juniperus communis): compatible plant in rock or Mediterranean gardens.
These associations improve the overall health of the garden, promote biodiversity and encourage healthy plant growth.
In any case, sunny exposures are recommended for growing savory, and it also loves light, well-drained and poor soils.
It is always advisable to keep a sufficient distance between plants to avoid competition and ensure good air flow.
We also remember that savory is harvested by bees; therefore it is a melliferous plant from which good honey is obtained, which however is very rare, since the plant has limited diffusion.
As for harvesting, savory is harvested in summer at the height of flowering, cutting it a few centimetres from the ground, while the parts used are the tops of the flowers and the leaves.
As for uses, savory is important both for pharmaceutical uses and in cooking.
– Pharmacy
According to popular medicine this plant has the following medicinal properties:
antiseptic (property of preventing or slowing the development of microbes);
carminative (promotes the release of intestinal gas);
digestive: helps the digestion of food;
expectorant (promotes the expulsion of bronchial secretions).
– Cooking
The edible parts are the leaves with which you can make an infusion, being a medicinal herb and medicinal herb; they can also be used as a condiment in many recipes.




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