![]() ![]() Harvesting and Storing Thymeĭon’t be afraid to start harvesting your thyme, as in most cases the more you harvest the faster the plant grows. Allow your thyme bed’s soil to dry out completely before watering in order to avoid this condition. Though thyme doesn’t have any serious disease problems, it occasionally suffers from root rot in too wet conditions. The worst insects that gardeners have problems with for their thyme are aphids and spider mites, but both can be kept away through a healthy ladybug population or the occasional use of an organic insecticide. Common Pests and Diseases for Thymeīecause thyme usually does a good job of attracting beneficial insects, it doesn’t have many problems with harmful pests. Out in your garden, you can plant thyme next to strawberries, eggplant, broccoli and cabbage for the benefit of all species. Plenty of garden plants do well with thyme, but rosemary is the perfect herb to pair with it because they both have the same watering needs. Companion Planting and Rotation Considerations To help your thyme survive a rough winter, add a thick layer of mulch to the plants to prevent them from freezing. Pruning off dead and dying stems in the spring and fall will help keep each plant healthy for the coming season. Once thyme is established, it only needs to be watered when the soil below is completely dry. It requires plenty of water throughout the first season in order to help it get established enough to thrive. Watering and Mulching RequirementsĪs far as horizontally growing plants go, thyme is extremely well-behaved and spreads slowly. Loosen up the soil with a light misting of water and space your plants between 12 and 24 inches apart, depending on how big you expect the variety to get. Once the weather heats up above 70 degrees, your cuttings and transplants are ready to go outside. ![]() It’s best to fertilize your soil with plenty of organic compost in the early spring to ensure there are plenty of nutrients available for it to feed on. For optimal growth, try to keep the pH of your soil between 6.0 and 8.0. This heat-loving herb requires full sun and well-drained soil to really thrive. Grow your thyme in a container that’s at least six inches deep and make sure it gets plenty of sunlight to ensure you always have a constant supply handy. Not only does thyme grow great in containers, keeping a pot on your kitchen windowsill makes it easily accessible for when you need it most. Within six weeks, roots should start to form, at which point you can transfer the cutting into a small pot until it reaches transplanting size. To start a new plant, clip off a three-inch section from the tip of a mature one and apply a rooting hormone to the exposed stem pieces. The horizontal growth pattern of thyme means it’s easy for side branches to root themselves in the soil. Many gardeners enjoy growing thyme near footpaths and walkways as a subtle decoration because thyme tends to be hardy enough to handle foot traffic. Thyme is best planted in the front of garden beds or next to ornamental plants that need something to offset their hues. This hardy plant stays evergreen throughout the year and is both drought and pest tolerant. When and Where Should You Grow Thyme?Īs a naturally perennial plant, thyme thrives in warm climate zones and when grown in containers that allow it to be brought to warmer spaces when the weather gets too intense. Not only is it dead easy to propagate thyme this way, it’s also a simple to strategy to ensure your plants stay true to the genes of their parent. Because thyme has such a low germination rate and needs plenty of babying before it even sprouts, most people prefer to propagate it from cuttings or plant it from nursery transplants. Though it’s possible to plant thyme directly from seed, the process isn’t worth it for most gardeners. Plus, the variations in color and size make it an herb that looks stunning anywhere. You can find a variety of thyme to match just about any flavor profile. The various types range from small evergreen perennials to woody shrubs with a mix of white, purple and pink flowers. Today there are over 400 species of thyme available. Yet thyme also provides every gardener with a tasty harvest all season long. Rather than sucking away every available nutrient and taking over space, thyme keeps to itself. Not only is thyme beautiful to look at and delicious to taste, it also plays nice with other garden plants. The Scottish Highlanders even praised tea made from thyme for its courage-boosting and strength-giving properties. ![]() And, it’s even a savory addition to a multitude of dishes made with eggs, meat and almost any vegetable. Native to the warm climates of the Grecian coast, thyme has long been used as both a landscape plant. For those that can’t get enough of Mediterranean cuisine, growing thyme should definitely be on your ‘must-grow’ list this season.
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