How to Grow Thyme Herb Plants

About Growing Thyme Plants in Your Herb Garden

Got the time for growing Thyme herbs? Sure you do! And, you will be glad you did. With a fresh and pleasingly pungent aroma and flavor, this easy-to-grow herb is popular in the home garden, because it is popular in the kitchen. Thyme herb plants produce a profusion of tiny flowers, making them attractive in flower beds and containers. In addition to being an attractive flower, Thyme is also fragrant when in bloom. Thyme plants have grayish leaves and woody stems.

Garden Tip: The flowers are like magnets to bees and birds. Set container-grown plants away from the patio door.

Try growing Thyme indoors in the winter as a house plant. Grow it indoors in a sunny window, or under a grow light.

Culinary Uses

This herb is no stranger to the kitchen. Uses include flavoring meats, sauces, fish, fish chowders, soups, stews, sauces, and flavored vinegar.

Nutritional Value

100 g of dried Thyme leaves contain approximately:

101 calories
24.5 g carbs
0 cholesterol
1.7 g fat
14 g fiber
4.6 g protein
9 mg sodium

Thyme Herb Plant Growing Specifications

Flowers Bloom: Spring to summer

Flower Colors: Pink, red, and white

Days to Harvest: Late spring to early summer before the flowers bloom. About 70 days.

Plant Height: Six to twelve inches tall.

Light Needs: Full sunlight.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.5– 7.5.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 5 – 9.

Ideal Growing Temperature Range: 60 to 85° F.

Plant Type: Perennial. The plant normally lives approximately 4 – 6 years.

Number of Varieties: 300.

Deer Resistant? Yes. Deer and other foraging animals do like the scent or tough texture.

Native To: Eurasia and North Africa.

Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris

How to Propagate Thyme Plants

Thyme plants are grown from seed. Start growing seeds indoors, six weeks before the last frost. Give seedlings plenty of sun. You can also sow Thyme seeds directly into the garden. Cover lightly with fine garden soil. Or, spread them across the top of the soil and very lightly water them in. Seeds are slow to sprout.

Note: For indoor starts, we recommend using a heated germination mat, to increase the speed of germination. And it results in a higher germination rate.

Make sure to put this perennial somewhere in the garden where it can live for several years, without the need to replant it.

Seed Planting Depth: 1/16 to 1/8 inch deep or less. The seeds need light to sprout.

Ideal Seed Germination Temperature: 70 to 75° F.

Days to Germination: 20 – 30 days.

Final Plant Spacing: Space seedlings, or thin plants 12 to 24 inches apart, in rows 18 to 24 inches apart.

Days to Maturity: 70 days

How to Grow Thyme Herb Plants

Planting and Soil Needs

Like most herbs, growing Thyme plants is easy. This low-maintenance plant is a great addition to your herb garden. Thyme plants thrive in a variety of soils, even poor ones, with little or no additional fertilizer. They also are tolerant of dry conditions.

For a good start, mix compost into the planting site. Also, mix in a fertilizer high in nitrogen to give the plants an early boost.

Once started, established plants grow well for years with little or no attention.

Light Requirement

Thyme plants need plenty of sunshine to reach their maximum potential. Consequently, select a location in your garden where they will receive at least six to eight hours of bright, direct sun. For optimal growth and flavor, grow them in a location that receives full sunlight from sunrise to sunset.

If you are growing them inside of your home, then place them in a sunny window.

Without sufficient sunlight, the plants grow leggy, and the stems are weak. Additionally, the leaves are less fragrant.

Fertilizer Needs

Thyme plants do not require a lot of nutrients. Rather, they grow best in average soil with no extra fertilizer. They get the nutrients they need from the native soil in your garden. For new plants, give them a high-nitrogen fertilizer once at the start of the season to promote quick growth. Then, do not add fertilizer to this plant because too much fertilizer weakens the flavor.

Only apply additional fertilizer if the soil is poor. In this case, add a little balanced, general-purpose fertilizer once during the season.

Water Needs

Thyme plants are native to dry, semi-arid regions where they grow well on hillsides with good drainage. As a result, they are quite drought-tolerant. While they benefit from moist soil to germinate their seeds, they otherwise grow best in slightly dry soil. They do not need additional water, except during periods of extended drought.

Water Thyme plants deeply during an extended drought. Then, allow the soil to dry out before watering them again. Of course, if the plants begin to wilt, it’s a clear sign that they need a drink.

Other Steps

While Thyme plants do not require a lot of nutrients, weeds rob valuable water and soil nutrients. Therefore, keep young Thyme plants well-weeded. Then, after they have grown several inches, apply a layer of mulch. This helps to retain soil moisture and gives the plant a neat and tidy appearance.

Pinch back the growing tips of the plant to promote bushier growth.

Prune away dead, damaged, or diseased leaves or stems.

The plants overwinter in most areas without any additional care or preparation. However, in cooler areas or f the country, apply a thick layer of mulch around the plants to protect the roots from freezing.

Insect and Plant Disease Problems

Insect and disease problems are uncommon. However, they do sometimes occur.

Aphids, scale insects, fungus gnats, mealybugs, spider mites, and thrips may occasionally infest the plants. Treat the plant with an organic insecticidal soap if problems arise.

Foraging animals do not bother these herbs.

Thyme herbs are susceptible to blights, grey mold, powdery mildew, and rust. Prune plants to improve air circulation. Use organic fungicides only if needed.

Avoid root rot by using loose, well-draining soil. Increase drainage, as needed. Before planting, elevate the soil.

Also, see: Plant Problems – causes and cures

How to Grow Thyme Herbs in Containers and Planters

Thyme plants are good candidates to grow in containers on your patio or deck. These small plants also look good in window boxes. You can grow them indoors, too.

In addition to the “How to Grow Thyme” steps above, here are a few additional steps for growing them in containers:

Grow them in containers or planters a little closer than the normal recommended spacing.
Select a sunny location on your patio or deck. When grown indoors, grow them in a sunny south-facing window as they need as much light as you can provide to them.
Deck and patios often get hotter than in your herb garden. Hence, in hotter weather, you can move the planter into shade in the afternoon.
It is important to have a drain hole in the container to allow excess water to drain from the pot.
The plant grows best in evenly slightly dry soil. Keep an eye on the moisture level. Check the plants every few days, especially in extended periods of hot, dry weather.
Water the plants when the soil has dried, or when they begin to wilt. When watering the plants, thoroughly wet the soil. Excess water will drain through the hole in the bottom of the flowerpot.
Nutrients in a container are limited. So, use fertilizer spikes to feed the plants. Or, apply a light solution of liquid fertilizer once every month.

Harvesting and Storing Thyme Herbs

Harvest leaves and use fresh, as needed, in the summer. Do not harvest more than 1/3 of the leaves t any time. Otherwise, you can negatively impact the growth and health of the plant. Pick the leaves in the morning when their oils are the strongest. First, wait until the dew has dried off the leaves. Use sharp pruning shears to cut off the leaves. As autumn arrives, harvest them in the morning when the oils are at their peak. Cut the plant a few inches above the ground. Spread leaves out to dry in a cool, well-ventilated area. Or, hang stems upside down to dry in a cool, well-ventilated area. After the leaves are dry, remove them from the stems. Finally, store them in an air-tight container out of direct sunlight.

Or, pick and freeze immediately.