![]() To infuse any kind of oil with thyme, Pick and wash 8 -10 large stems of thyme. Store the dried thyme in a mason or other glass jar to preserve its flavor. Once dry rub the stems with you hands to remove the dries leaves. Tie little bunches of thyme into bundles and hang them upside down in a cool dry location to air dry. you can also wrap the cut end in a little moist paper towel to keep the thyme fresh, or keep the thyme in a little water filled glass on a window ledge. Luckily thyme does surprisingly well in the fridge when simply kept in a little bag to prevent it from drying out. You can also freeze it in little bags if you wish. While fresh thyme will always have the best flavor, you can easily preserve some of your thyme for winter by drying it, or infusing it in oil. This allows the thyme to quickly grow back and fill in any sections that where harvested. ![]() Snip of as many stems as you need, making sure to take no more then ⅓ of the plant at any given time. Harvest thyme when you see stems become 'leggy' or as needed. The smaller more tender stems are milder in flavor and not as 'woody'. When harvesting thyme it is best to harvest from the outside in. If you feel your thyme is growing very slow, try fertilizing it once a month with a liquid seaweed based fertilizer such as Neptune's Harvest. If planted outdoors I only water my thyme if the summer is very hot and dry. While thyme does need moist soil, you should allow plenty of drainage and avoid over watering, especially if planting thyme in pots. I love planting thyme in large flower pots because you can easily move the planter to a sunnier location as the sun shifts throughout the year or if you have a shady garden. These tiny flowers are quite pretty, are fully edible, and can be used in salads, as a garnish, or to make tea! Wild creeping thyme blooming in a meadow If provided with enough sun, thyme will flower quite profusely, in small white, lavender, pink, or deep purple flowers. While thyme will grow in shaded areas, it may not flower or produce as vigorously. Thyme needs part sun to full sun (6-8 hours a day) to do well. Caring For & Harvesting ThymeĬommon Thyme grows as a woody little shrub 8 - 10 inches high, with multiple little stems or 'branches' growing from a main stem. Once the seeds sprout, move the thyme seedlings to a sunny window and rotate daily to encourage even growth. Plant the seeds or a cutting as described above, and keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout or you see new growth. While it will naturally not produce as well as when outside in full sun, you can easily grow thyme on your windowsill for access to fresh year round herbs. Much like rosemary, parsley, and basil, thyme is well suited to growing in containers. Keep the cutting in a warm, lightly shaded area, until you start to see new growth. Plant 8 to 9 inches apart and firmly pat the soil in place, then lightly water. Snip a stem of a mature plant, then remove the lower section of leaves and push the cut end directly into the soil. You can also plant cuttings in your garden or containers. Seeds should sprout withing 14 to 28 days. Cover with a light layer of moist garden soil. If direct sowing/planting in the garden sow the seeds by sprinkling them over a prepared section of the garden about 8 to 9 inches apart. The seeds are very small and don't germinate evenly, so I would just sprinkle them over the surface of a prepared seed tray or pot. If starting thyme from seed, it's best to start the seeds indoors 6 to 10 weeks before the last frost. ![]() Growing thyme from seed can be hit or miss, which is why I suggest propagating thyme from cuttings taken from a friend/neighbor or purchasing a small plant. You can find out your hardiness zone if your in the US here or If you are located in Canada here. If growing thyme in colder locations, you'll likely need to bring the plant indoors for the winter. ![]() Most varieties of thyme are hardy up to zone 5 if provided with winter protection. Thyme is a perennial (which means it comes back year after year) and can be grown anywhere from hardiness zone 2 (-50 F) to hardiness zone 10 (30F). Thymus Citriodorus - Lemon Thyme How To Grow Thyme ![]()
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