Thyme is one of the main contents of “Bouquet garni” along with bay and parsley.It is a widely used herb due to its strong flavor and its aromatic foliage. It is used to flavor the liquor “Benedictine” and used frequently in French and Italian dishes.It is an excellent rock garden plant which can be used as a ground cover.It releases its fragrance when brushed. Thyme can thrive in almost any climate as it is perennial in colder climates and survives the winter living for several years. You don’t have to put in much efforts to grow thyme at your home.Its very easy.
[ READ MORE ABOUT : THYME ]
Planting Thyme Seedlings or Cuttings
You can grow thyme from seeds, plant divisions or seedlings but a quicker growth is observed when planted from seedlings or cuttings of old plant’s divisions as its root formation is most viable at this point. However, growing thyme from seeds can be difficult because their germination is often sluggish and uneven. Most of the time it is suggested to buy young thyme seedlings.These seedlings can be obtained at any nursery.You can also take cuttings from someone else’s thyme. Some commonly popular varieties are common thyme, lemon thyme, golden king thyme, mother of thyme and garden thyme.
Planting location to Grow Thyme
Thyme should be planted in dry, sandy soil with good drainage and if the soil does not appear to drain well, some compost, sand , vermiculite, porlite mix and organic material can be added to improve drainage.Mulching with limestone gravel or builder’s sand improves drainage thereby preventing root rot so never plant this herb in soggy or heavy soil.Thyme can thrive in full sun so plant them in a very sunny area.
The nutrient requirement of this herb is minimal and thyme likes alkaline soil so if you add some lime to your soil then its pH is raised.
Planting Time
The seedlings or cuttings of thyme should be planted in spring, about two to three weeks before the last frost of spring.Plant them in a soil which is about 70°F (21°c) to get the best results.
Grow Thyme in pots
Thyme is one of the easiest herbs to cultivate in pots indoors or out doors. An excellent container for growing thyme can be a clay planter.This pot will allow the herb to dry out between watering and prevent overly wet roots as thyme isn’t tolerant of soggy root conditions. Growing thyme inside will require temperature in day time around 60°F or more , once thyme has been planted keep the pot where it will receive 6 hours of day light. Thyme can grow perfectly in pots because it likes to spill over the sides and trail out.
How to Grow Thyme in a Pot
Spacing
Most thyme plants grow 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) in height and eventually 40 cm wide. So if you are planting cuttings or seedlings, maintain a gap of 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) between them so that they get enough space. These cuttings and seedlings form excellent ground covers for pathways or patios. Planting them between stones or at the edge of a garden in the sun and well drained soil can give you fragrant surrounding .
How to take care of thyme ?
If you are planning to plant this herb, you have to plant the seeds 1/4 inches (64 cm) deep and bury the cuttings and seedlings 1/2 inches deep. Then you need to be patient for a while and wait for your seeds to sprout.Thyme plant usually takes 5 to 10 days to sprout.
Watering
Thyme requires water on a regular time intervals.It is a hardy, drought resistant herb. You can water this herb regularly during the first few months but once they are established, soak the ground thoroughly and wait until the soil dries completely before watering your herb again.
Trimming to grow Thyme
The stalks of three to four year old plants become woody and the plant will start producing fewer leaves.At this point you have to start a new batch of seedlings, if you are growing thyme for culinary purposes. You need to prune your thyme back to half of its previous height every spring so that your herb becomes bushy and produces tender stems. If you will do this , your thyme will flourish again the next spring.
You can encourage the growth of denser leaves by pinching the leaves and ends of your thyme,using a pair of shears or scissors to lightly trim the outer growth when the plant is about 6 inches tall.
Removing weeds
Weeds are unwanted plants which start to compete with young thyme plants for soil’s nutrients and slows down the development of young plants. You can control the weeds around seedlings either through weeding or mulching (limestone gravel, builder’s sand, leaf mold or straw). They also block the much needed sunlight and soak up the intended water, so you have to be careful and target the weeds when young as at that time they are easier to remove.
You should grasp the weed firmly with steady pressure and try to pull up as much of the roots as possible, a spade or rooting tool can be helpful.
Avoid over Fertilizing Thyme
Once the herb is established by seedlings, it will need very little attention and less amount of nutrients to thrive. You should avoid fertilizing the plant too much as it may cause it to loose its flavor and become gangly. You need to mulch your plants with organic matter like leaf molds, well rotted animal manure or compost during autumn.
How to harvest your Thyme?
You can get the most potent flavor of this herb if you harvest it right before the flowers begin to open, thyme blooms tiny white, lavender or pink flowers. You should feel free to pinch the flowers off if you like to stimulate the production of more leaves. If you enjoy the fragrance of thyme flowers allow them to grow freely as the flavor of thyme won’t be negatively affected.
Gathering
If you harvest your thyme in June or July, it will give you the best flavor.You can harvest this herb at any point of the year. You can cut off the fresh green springs in the morning leaving the woody part of the stalks behind and striping the tiny leaves off the stems.
Then you need to gather these bunches into small bundles and use a rubber band to fasten it. Don’t tie them too dense as this may cause uneven drying and could result in a less desirable finished product.
Covering the Bundles
You need to cover your thyme bundles to prevent dust from accumulating on it as it dries.It will also keep the sun from bleaching off the colour from the plant. Paper bags will work best for your thyme bundles , you will have to cut holes in these bags to promote air flow for the herb to dry better.
Hanging your Herb
You can try hanging your plant in an area that is warm and dry but partially out of direct sun light. Hang the springs or bundles in a dark but well ventilated area to dry your thyme. Another way to dry them would be to lay them on a tray and put them on a food dehydrator. Once the herb dries out completely, its leaves will fall off the stems.
Storing
You need to check your thyme leaves on regular intervals and when they become brittle, the leaves are ready to store. Spread out a sheet of wax paper and place your thyme bundles on it.Crumble the leaves out after that. Now your thyme is ready to be stored, keep them in air tight jars to enjoy it throughout the year.