Thyme
stats/requirements at a glance
Ease of Raising:
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5/5 – Very Easy, plant and leave
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Water:
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1/5 – Minimal, weekly (especially in a container)
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Sun:
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5/5 – Full sun
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Training:
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1/5 – Minimal (3Ds: Dead, damaged and diseased)
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Fertilise/Feeding:
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1/5 – Minimal (at least during the growing season)
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Time to Harvest:
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1/5 – Immediate (purchased a seedling) to Soon (from seed)
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Frost Hardiness:
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1/4 – Very Hardy (can’t take black frost)
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Uses:
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Culinary, Medicinal, Pollinator attractor & Predator
sheltering
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Most Problematic
Nemesis:
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None, some die-back with over-watering
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Container Plant:
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Yes (preferably grown in the garden rather than container)
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Wild Thyme Thymus serpyllum Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz 1885 Kurt Stober's Online Library |
Quick intro
Thyme is the quintessential herb for me and when I hear the
word herb, thyme comes to mind with its tight clustering of leaves, minute
flowers and great aroma. They are lovely to add to savoury dishes such as meat
dishes, soups, casseroles, stuffings, stews and is likely best known for their
addition to bouquet garni seasonings. They are very useful in the kitchen and
vegetable garden as well as ornamental gardens due to their hardy nature and
thriving where other plants perish.
History
As with its other aromatic cousins, Rosemary, Sage and
Oregano; Thyme originated in southern Europe and the Mediterranean countries.
Its name was derived from several different ancient languages, but the original
was Greek ‘thuein’, which means to ‘burn’ or ‘sacrifice’, as it was customary
to burn/use thyme during funerals or religious ceremonies by the ancient
Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. During the Middle Ages, knights were bestowed
thyme to bring them courage.
Science Stuff
Thyme belongs to the Lamiaceae family of aromatic herbs
along with rosemary, sage, oregano, basil, mints, marjorams, balm and savory.
Common or Garden Thyme, Thymus
vulgaris, is the most well-known and widely used. Several other wild and
scented thymes are available, such as Lemon Thyme (Thymus x citriodorus),
Caraway Thyme (Thymus herba-barona),
Orange-scented (Thymus
‘fragrantissimus’) Spanish sauce (Thymus
zygis), Broad-leaved (Thymus
pulegioides), Winter-flowering (Thymus
hyamalis), Cilician (Thymus cilicius),
Creeping (Thymus quiquecostatus), Spanish/mastic
(Thymus mastichina) and lastly,
Conehead Thyme (Thymus capitatus).
The easiest to find are common, lemon and creeping thyme.
Lemon Thyme Thymus x citriodorus |
The citrus scented thymes include lemon, orange and lime
thymes. The caraway thyme has a potent caraway aroma produced by the same
chemical, carvone. The wild thymes (Thymus
serpyllum), creepers and woollies are more suited to ornamental use.
Thyme plants contain thymol essential oil highly regarded
for its antiseptic properties and it exceptionally useful for treating stomach
ulcers and even aging! The oils assist with digestion and breaking down fats.
Growing & Pruning
Thyme
Seedlings are the easiest means of raising thyme, but you
can try your hand at sowing seeds.
Well drained soil and a very sunny spot is essential for
growing healthy, vibrant thyme. Over-watering or water-logged plants will die
back, therefore no standing water in saucers if you are growing it in pots.
Lemon Thyme Thymus x citriodorus |
Thymes are very hardy to high temperature (30oC),
but does not appreciate it too cold (below -12oC). Thyme will die
off when it gets too cold, if you want to harvest from it during such as time, make sure to dig your thyme up and bring it
inside for the winter freeze.
Other Tips
You can plant basil with thyme in the same pot, where the basil
will suck up any additional water that the thyme might not want. Also thyme can
be combined with other water-efficient plants to limit watering.
Thyme is very hardy and can grow in any soil, including
those that are very nutrient poor. This characteristic makes thyme excellent
for rockeries, planting between stepping stones and other dry places in the
garden that require plants. They are tolerant to being stomped on and the
delightful scent they give off when trampled does make for a wonderful experience
J.
Depending on what you like thymes come in upright varieties
and creeping (matting) varieties, both will do with some minimal pruning if
they become scraggly.
Thyme is evergreen and can be harvested throughout the year,
but can be dried if you prefer its milder taste, else pruning cut-offs can be
given to friends and family J
Thymes are replaced every 3-5 years to ensure strong
flavoured leaves for cooking.
Harvesting &
Storing
Drying thyme: Simply save the pruned leaves and dry on a
paper/cloth towel indoors for a few days in a dry (airy) place. Once dry they
can be stored in glass jars.
Thyme scented oil: Similar to rosemary and oregano, thyme
can be heated in oil (no boiling, only smoking oil, else the oil is destroyed
and become heart-unhealthy J Boiling oil also destroys the aromatic oils form the
herb). The oil is allowed to cool a bit (so that you retain heat as the
sterilising agent, but not too hot that it will break the glass container you
want to store it in J). The thyme leaves are removed and the oil is poured
into a glass bottle (the leaves will become mouldy if left in the oil). This
oil is especially useful for meat and savoury dishes! Or use as is with breads
– Yum!
Seed Saving &
Propagation
Thyme flowers are always a hit with the pollinators in the
garden and their small form makes them very cute. Garden thyme makes lovely
lilac flowers, but you get bright pinks, whites and purples as well!
Seed collection: The flower clusters are harvested when dry and separated
(rub with fingers to release 4 ‘nutlets’ per flower) before storing in a glass
container. Seeds are likely viable for 1 year only. I would also assume that
the seeds require stratification (cold winter period of 1-6 months) as with the
other herbs to break seed dormancy – a refrigerator works well at 0.5-5oC
(33-41oF). Seeds are sown in a sunny position when the soil has
reached 20oC (68oF) and germination takes up to 4 weeks.
Many of the aromatic herb family members can be propagated
by the division of large plants. Any divisions should immediately be replanted
at a different locations – that is to say if you want more than one J.
You divide the plant by cutting straight down the centre (you can decide on the
appropriate tool, such as scissors – a spade works well too!). Creeping thymes
will easily split, but I am not too sure about the uprights. Stem cuttings can
also be rooted in the appropriate rooting hormone during spring and summer.
My Thyme
Garden Thyme: The reliable go-to for cooking.
Lemon Thyme: Wonderful for adding a bit extra to meat dishes
and grows far better than the garden thyme.
Lemon Thyme Thymus x citriodorus |
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