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How to Grow Samphire

Salicornia europaea

Half Hardy Cool Season Continuous Harvest

Samphire is a delicate salt-marsh succulent with bright green jointed stems and a distinctly salty, mineral flavour. Grow in free-draining, gritty soil — it tolerates saline conditions that would kill most vegetables. Sow in spring, thin to 15 cm, and snap off tender stem tips from midsummer. Best eaten very fresh, blanched briefly, alongside fish and seafood dishes.

When to Start

Sow indoors 6 weeks before last frost, or direct sow outdoors after frost risk has passed and soil reaches 10°C.

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Growth Stages

Sow seeds
Day 0
Germination
~14 days
Harvest
~90 days
Seed to harvest
~90 days

Approximate days from start

Care Essentials

  • Samphire grows naturally in nutrient-poor coastal soils and rarely needs feeding. If plants look pale, apply a very dilute balanced liquid feed once in mid-season. Avoid heavy fertilising which promotes lush growth at the expense of flavour.
  • Samphire is a salt-tolerant coastal succulent that thrives in well-drained, sandy, or gritty soil. It does not require saline conditions but benefits from them. In garden beds, add horticultural grit to improve drainage. It is an annual in most temperate climates, dying back after setting seed in autumn.

Growing Conditions

Min. soil temperature
10°C+
Germination temperature
15–22°C

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Spacing & Planting

Plant spacing 15 cm
Row spacing 25 cm
Sow depth 0.5 cm
Mature height 30 cm
Mature spread 20 cm

Try our spacing calculator →

Growing Conditions

Min. soil temperature10°C
Germination temperature15–22°C
Base growth temperature5°C
Photoperiod sensitivityday neutral

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Samphire?
Plant Samphire 15cm apart with 25cm between rows.
Is Samphire frost hardy?
Samphire is classified as Half Hardy.

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