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When to Plant Savory in Perry County, PA

Perry County, Pennsylvania Zone 7a May

Your May game plan for Perry County, Pennsylvania

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Perry County, Pennsylvania.

Avg. last frost April 24
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Set out savory seedlings

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: savory

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Summer savory is an annual herb with a peppery, thyme-like flavor that pairs especially well with beans. Winter savory is a perennial with a stronger flavor.

Perry County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 181 days.

At an elevation of 693 feet, Perry County receives approximately 40.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Savory during the growing season.

Perry County, PA (Zone 7a) Moderate season
181 days
Last Spring Frost April 24
181 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Perry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Aug 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 9

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Perry County

How your county's soil matches Savory's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0–6.3) is more acidic than Savory prefers (6.5–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Perry County is excellent for Savory — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Savory prefers dry conditions but your soil drains poorly. Use raised beds or mounded rows to prevent root rot.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). Annual compost additions will help Savory.

How to Plant Savory

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Savory

4
successive plantings in your 181-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Savory

Savory needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Savory Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Perry County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Savory Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Savory needs ~1,005 GDD — county provides 3,031 GDD Excellent fit

Savory Planting Timeline — Perry County, PA

Savory Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 1 May 1 – May 15
Harvest June 26 Jun 26 – Aug 21

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6.5–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

181 days in Perry County

Growing Tips for Savory in Perry County

Direct sow Savory outdoors after April 24 in Perry County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Direct sow summer savory after last frost. Plant winter savory from divisions or cuttings. Harvest stems before flowering for best flavor. Use fresh or dried.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Savory in Perry County, PA?

Perry County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 24. Plan your Savory planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Perry County, PA?

Perry County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 24 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Perry County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Perry County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Perry County, PA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.