How To Grow Aromatic Thyme At Home!
At first glance, thyme looks like any other herb—small, with delicate green leaves. But once you get to know it, you realize thyme is more than just a pretty plant. Bees and other pollinators love its small, evergreen leaves and clusters of tiny, purple-pink flowers, and they add a touch of charm to any outdoor space!
Thyme is an incredibly versatile, perennial, evergreen herb that's easy to grow and adds wonderful flavor to your cooking. Its Mediterranean flavor blends well with other flavors of its native region, such as garlic, olive oil, and tomatoes.
In this blog post, I'll share everything I've learned about growing thyme, from why you should grow it to caring for it after planting. So, let's dive in!
Contents:
Why Grow Thyme?
There are so many reasons to grow thyme, and it's a go-to herb in the garden!
For starters, thyme is a hardy, low-maintenance plant that thrives in many conditions. It doesn't demand much attention, which is great if, like me, you sometimes forget to water your plants or are just too busy!
Thyme is also one of those herbs that pairs well with everything—potatoes, vegetables, soups, stews, fruit, and even desserts and refreshing drinks. Fresh or dried, thyme adds a subtle, earthy flavor with hints of lemon and mint.
Some delicious recipes using thyme:
Fall pasta with butternut squash
Fig and caramelized onion galette
Apart from its culinary uses, thyme also makes a beautiful ground cover in your garden. Its small, aromatic leaves create a dense mat of greenery, and some varieties even bloom with tiny purple, white, or pink flowers. This not only adds visual interest to your garden but also attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Another bonus? Thyme is a natural pest repellent. Its strong aroma keeps certain insects away, making it a useful companion plant in your vegetable garden.
Types of Thyme
Before you start growing thyme, it's important to know that there are several different types, each with its own unique characteristics.
The most popular types you'll find are:
Common Thyme: This is the classic culinary thyme you'll likely recognize from recipes. It has a robust flavor and is excellent for cooking.
Lemon Thyme: As the name suggests, this variety has a citrusy aroma and flavor. It's great for adding a zesty twist to dishes.
Creeping Thyme: Creeping thyme is perfect if you're looking for a variety to use as ground cover. It spreads quickly and produces pretty little flowers.
Woolly Thyme: This variety has soft, fuzzy leaves and is often used in rock gardens or as decorative ground cover.
For culinary purposes, I recommend starting with common or lemon thyme. Creeping thyme or woolly thyme are great choices if you want to add texture and color to your garden beds or pathways.
When to Plant Thyme
While thyme is fairly adaptable, it does best when planted in the right conditions.
Starting from Seeds
Thyme is a bit difficult to start from seeds, but if you want to grow thyme from seeds, it's best to start indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost in your area. This allows the seeds to germinate and grow into small seedlings before they're ready for transplanting outdoors.
Thyme seeds can take 1-3 weeks to germinate, so starting early gives you a head start for the growing season.
Transplanting Seedlings or Buying Young Plants
If you're transplanting thyme seedlings or using young plants from a nursery, wait until the risk of frost has completely passed, usually in late spring or early summer.
Thyme is a warm-weather plant, so it thrives when planted in temperatures above 60°F (15°C). Planting too early, when the soil is still cold, can stunt its growth or even kill young plants.
Planting Outdoors
For those in mild climates, thyme can be planted in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, or even into late summer and fall in some warmer regions.
Thyme is a perennial in most areas, meaning it will survive the winter and return each year, but it needs warm soil and sunshine to establish itself.
Container Planting Indoors
If you're planting thyme in containers indoors, you can do it year-round, as long as the plant gets plenty of sunlight—at least 6-8 hours a day. Just keep it in a sunny spot or use grow lights to ensure it thrives.
READ MORE: The best vegetables to grow indoors
Where to Plant Thyme
One of the things I love about thyme is that it's not too picky about where it grows. Whether you have a spacious garden or just a few containers on a sunny windowsill, thyme will adapt. Thyme can thrive in poor soil where no other plant or grass can!
However, there are a few things to remember when deciding where to plant thyme.
Sunlight
Thyme loves the sun! Plant it in a spot with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Soil
Thyme prefers well-drained sandy or loamy soil, and even rocky gravel will work well. It doesn't like to sit in water, so avoid planting it in areas where water tends to pool. If your garden soil is heavy or clay-like, you can improve drainage by adding some sand or gravel.
Space
Thyme spreads as it grows, so give each plant enough room to expand. For most varieties, I recommend spacing them about 12-18 inches apart. This not only allows the plants to fill out but also helps with air circulation, reducing the risk of disease.
How to Plant Thyme Seedlings
Once you've decided where to plant your thyme, it's time to get those seedlings in the ground.
Here's how I do it:
1. Prepare the soil
Loosen the soil where you'll be planting the thyme, removing any weeds or debris. If the soil is heavy, mix in some sand or gravel to improve drainage.
2. Dig the hole
Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball of your thyme seedling. Gently remove the seedling from its container, being careful not to damage the roots.
3. Plant the seedling
Place the seedling in the hole, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill the hole with soil and gently press down to remove any air pockets.
4. Water lightly
After planting, water the thyme lightly. Thyme doesn't need much water to establish itself, so avoid overwatering. I usually give it a light sprinkle just to help the roots settle.
5. Mulch
To help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay, you can add a layer of mulch around the base of the plant. Just be sure not to cover the plant itself, as thyme likes good air circulation.
Propagating Thyme
If you already have a thriving thyme plant, propagating it is a fun and easy way to expand your herb garden.
In late spring, cut a healthy, non-flowering, not too woody stem from a mothering plant about 3-4 inches long.
Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting, then dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional). Plant the cutting in a small pot with well-draining soil, water lightly, and keep it in a warm, sunny spot.
In about six weeks, the cutting should develop roots and can be transplanted to the garden.
Growing Thyme In Containers
Growing thyme in containers is a fantastic option if you're short on garden space or just want easy access to fresh herbs right outside your kitchen. The great thing about thyme is that it's a hardy herb and grows well in pots with the right care. Plus, the aromatic scent and evergreen appearance of thyme make it a lovely addition to any windowsill or patio.
Here's how to grow thyme in containers:
1. Choose the Right Container
Thyme doesn't need a huge pot, but it does need enough space for its roots to spread and grow comfortably. If you're planting one or two plants, choose a pot that's about 6-8 inches deep and about 8-12 inches wide. Drainage holes at the bottom are critical. If you're using a decorative container without drainage, consider placing a layer of small stones at the bottom of the pot to prevent the roots from sitting in water.
2. Use the Best Soil for Thyme
Standard potting mix works well, but for thyme, I prefer using a mix designed for herbs or succulents, as these tend to have better drainage. You can also mix regular potting soil with some sand or perlite to improve drainage.
3. Place in the Right Spot
Thyme loves the sun, so placing your container in a spot where it will get 6-8 hours of direct sunlight is ideal. If you're growing thyme indoors, find the sunniest window in your house, preferably a south-facing one.
4. Planting and After Care
Plant the thyme seedlings as you would in the garden (scroll up to see how!). Water the plant deeply but infrequently. This means allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Stick your finger into the soil about an inch deep—if it's dry, it's time to water.
Caring for Thyme After Planting
Once your thyme is in the ground, the hard work is pretty much done! Thyme is a low-maintenance herb, but you can do a few things to keep it healthy and thriving.
Watering
Thyme is drought-tolerant, so it doesn't need frequent watering. In fact, overwatering is one of the most common mistakes people make when growing thyme. I usually water my thyme once a week, or when the soil feels dry about an inch below the surface.
Pruning
Regular pruning helps keep thyme compact and encourages new growth. Pinch off the tips of the stems regularly to promote bushier growth. Once the thyme starts flowering, you can also cut it back to prevent it from becoming too leggy. Or keep it if you like the flowers!
Fertilizing
Thyme doesn't need a lot of fertilizer. In fact, too much fertilizer can cause the plant to become leggy and lose its flavor. If you do want to give your thyme a little boost, add some compost in the spring.
Mulching
Mulching around the base of the thyme plant helps retain moisture and keeps weeds under control. Just make sure not to pile the mulch too high around the stem, as this can cause rot.
harvesting your thyme
One of the best things about this herb is that you can harvest it almost throughout the whole year!
Here are some key tips for getting the most out of your thyme plant:
When to Harvest Thyme
Timing: Thyme can be harvested as soon as the plant has grown enough leaves, typically when it reaches about 4-6 inches tall. You can start snipping small amounts after the plant has established itself, which usually takes around 2-3 months for new plants or seedlings.
Before flowering: Thyme has the most potent flavor just before it begins to flower. While you can harvest thyme after it has flowered, the leaves might have a milder taste.
How to Harvest Thyme
Using scissors or shears: To avoid damaging the plant, use scissors or garden shears to snip off the sprigs. Cut the stems about 5-6 inches from the top, making sure to leave the lower portions of the plant intact to allow it to regrow.
Avoid over-harvesting: Only take about one-third of the plant at a time. This ensures that the plant remains healthy and continues to grow and produce more leaves throughout the season.
Pruning during the season: Regularly harvesting thyme can also act as pruning, encouraging the plant to become bushier and preventing it from becoming leggy or woody.
Drying and Storing Thyme
If you’ve harvested more thyme than you can use right away, drying is a great way to preserve it.
Air drying: Tie small bunches of thyme stems together with string and hang them upside down in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. It usually takes 1-2 weeks for thyme to dry completely.
Oven drying: You can also dry thyme in an oven at a very low temperature (around 100°F/38°C) for a few hours.
Storage: Once dried, strip the leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container in a dark, cool place. Dried thyme can retain its flavor for up to a year.
Common Problems with Thyme
While thyme is generally a trouble-free herb, there are a few problems you might run into.
Root rot
This is usually caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Look out for leaves that are browning, dropping, or wilted as a sign of root to. To prevent root rot, make sure your thyme is planted in well-draining soil and don't water it too often.
Pests
Thyme is naturally pest-resistant, but aphids, spider mites, and thrips can sometimes become an issue. I've found that spraying the plant with a mixture of water and a few drops of dish soap usually does the trick.
Powdery mildew
If your thyme is planted too closely together or in a humid environment, it may develop powdery mildew. To prevent this, make sure the plants have good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
Growing thyme is so much fun and fantastic for beginner gardeners as they are so hardy! They are easy to grow, versatile, and add so much flavor to your dishes.
Imagine quickly running out to the garden to pick some fresh thyme and other herbs, it is indeed rewarding, friend!
If you want to expand your herb garden, have a look at these blogs:
A guide to growing your own mint
Happy growing!
Annette, xx
