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Thyme

Thymus spp.

Category: Herbs

Thyme is a small perennial shrub with lots of branches and white or light purple to pink flowers. It's aromatic and has a pleasant, pungent, clover flavor. There are over fifty varieties used in cooking and gardening. English thyme is used most often in cooking.

How to Grow Thyme

Quick Info

Spacing
1/Square
Depth
0.3 in
0.3 in
Sun
Full Sun
Water
1 in/week
Season
Perennial
Frost
Tolerant
Height
6-12 in
Germination
14-21 days
Germination Temp
60-70 °F
Sprout to Harvest
70-80 days
Soil pH
Acidic - Slightly Basic

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Varieties

Common
Common Intensely aromatic and flavorful, this easy-to-grow herb is a culinary staple and a magnet for pollinators.
Creeping
Creeping Aromatic ground cover thyme.
English
English Prized for its subtle, woodsy flavor, this versatile culinary herb is also an attractive, drought-tolerant garden and container plant.
German Winter
German Winter A robustly flavored, aromatic herb ideal for culinary uses that thrives well in indoor growing environments.
Lemon
Lemon Green leaves with a lemony fragrance are used to flavor fish, chicken, and vegetables
Magic Carpet or Creeping
Magic Carpet or Creeping Floriferous, aromatic ground cover, tolerant of foot traffic. Drought-tolerant perennial releases fragrance when trod upon.
Orangelo
Orangelo This easy-to-grow perennial offers a distinctive orange and citrus flavor, perfect for culinary and landscape use.
Organic
Organic Gourmet seasoning herb for dressings, sauces and soups.
View all 9 varieties →

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Diseases

Beneficial Critters

Growing from Seed

It can be tricky to grow thyme from seeds because of its slow, uneven germination. It's easier to buy transplants or take some cuttings from a friend.

Planting Considerations

Thyme will grow better in slightly dry, well-draining soil than in waterlogged soil.

Feeding

Thyme usually grows well without any additional feeding. However, feel free to apply a well-aged manure or balanced fertilizer every once in a while.

Harvesting

Throughout the summer, leaves and sprigs can be harvested at any time.

Storage

To dry the sprigs, hang them in a dark, well-ventilated, warm area. You can also just dry the leaves by placing them on a tray. Once dried, store them in an airtight container. Freezing is another method of storage.

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