Gardening Advice: Instruction for Growing Thyme
How to Grow Thyme
in Your Herb Garden
*** Easy to Grow ***
Thyme is a hardy perennial herb used both for it’s culinary flavor and for it’s health giving properties. Thyme can withstand many climates (except extreme winter temperatures) and has even been known to grow in the Alps. Thyme comes in several varieties, and tends to be a creeping ground shrub. It’s commonly planted as a border plant in an herb garden, or along retaining walls. It can tolerate light traffic, so planting a low growing variety around the stepping stones of your walking path, makes for a lovely scented walk for passers-by. Thyme’s tiny fragrant flowers are a favorite for bees, so plant them in strategic places around your garden to attract these important pollinators! As a culinary herb, it’s commonly used for flavoring meat dishes, sausages, soups and stuffing. Thyme makes a wonderful plant for container gardening! (for more information: container gardening)
Back during “the Age of Chivalry,” knights often had thyme’s likeness sewn to their garb to inspire courage. In later times, sprigs of thyme were burned in homes to help cleanse the air and protect the home from the plague. Somewhat more fanciful, there’s a curious old superstition that states that if you plant a bed of thyme in your garden, you’ll be able to see fairies in the garden.
In modern times (during WWI) thyme oil was used as an external antiseptic for wounds. Today, aromatherapists use the scent from thyme’s oil as a mood lifter.
Nutrition Information & Uses (back to top)
Fresh Thyme is believed to be source of: Dietary Fiber, Vitamin B6, A, C, Folate, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc, Riboflavin, , Copper, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Manganese.
Thyme is reputed to have the following properties: carminative, anti-microbial, anti-spasmodic, expectorant, astringent.
Thymol is the essential oil in thyme, and is a strong antibacterial agent. It is believed to increase the bloodflow to the skin. It is sometimes used externally in treating infected wounds, and internally in treating digestive and respiratory infections. Thyme can act as an antispasmodic, soothing sore throats and coughs. Thyme tea can sooth the intestinal and digestive system. Used as a mouthwash, it can help treat gum infections.
Climate / Growing Conditions (back to top)
Thyme can grow as a perennial in most climates. If you have extremely harsh winters, this herb will only grow outside as an annual. (If that's the case for you, consider potting it and taking in for the winter.)
If you’re growing thyme in an area where the ground freezes in the winter, mulch heavily in the fall to help protect it from winter’s cold temperatures.
Upper stems may be damaged over the winter and should be pruned back to new growth in spring.
Gardening Advice Tip: Thyme does have a tendency becomes woody and your plants may need to be replaced (or divided) every 4 years or so.
How To Prepare the Garden Soil (back to top)
Thyme likes sunny spots with loose, somewhat rocky, well-drained soil. The herb garden’s soil in your thyme patch should have a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0. (Instructions: How to test and change the garden soil pH level.)
Gardening Advice Tip: if your soil doesn’t drain well, work in compost or well-rotted manure. Sand can help also.
How To Plant Thyme (back to top)
Plant seeds when the ground temperature had warmed. Cover with a very light layer of soil/seed starter mix, and keep damp but not soggy (misting works well). Once seedlings are growing and established, thin plants to 8-12” apart.
Or, you can also purchase plants from your nursery or take divided plants from other gardeners with thyme to spare.
How to Water
Thyme requires little care… once it’s established, you should only need to water it during dry spells.
How to Harvest Thyme (back to top)
Harvest thyme by clipping off thyme’s foliage as you need it (you can harvest both the leaves and flowers). Harvesting it acts as pruning, and encourages it to fill in and grow more. Cut off the stems so they’re about 6” long (leaving a few inches of plant to re-grow).
Gardening Advice Tip: If harvesting for winter’s storage, (for best flavor) wait until the plant is in full bloom.
Storage:
How to Freeze Thyme (back to top)
Freezing thyme seems to be the best way for it to retain it’s flavor in storage. Wash the branches and pat them dry. Place on cookie sheets and freeze. Once frozen, strip off the leaves and place in an airtight container and place back in the freezer.
How to Dry (Dehyrdate) Thyme (back to top)
You can dry thyme by bundling bunches of thyme together and hanging them in a shaded well ventilated space to dry. When they’re dry, strip the leaves off of the branches and store in an airtight container out of the light.
You can also dehydrate thyme using your dehydrator on it’s lowest setting. Make sure the temperature of the dehydrator stays below 100 degrees (F) or you’ll risk destroying thyme’s natural oils.
Gardening Advice Tips (back to top)
Have a helpful gardening tip (or even a funny story) to share about your thyme growing experience? Share it with us at: gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
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