How to grow Thyme

Where to plant

Plant thyme in full sun in dry, sandy or rocky, well-drained soil with a neutral to alkaline pH. Poorly drained soil, especially over winter, shortens its life. In heavy soil, grow it in a raised bed, a rock garden, along a path edge or in a pot.

In Florida and the humid South, thyme is often short lived through the wet summer; good drainage, air movement and not overwatering make the difference.

• Florida and the Gulf South: plant in late fall to early spring; UF/IFAS suggests sowing in late fall or early spring. Use raised beds or pots in wet soil.
• Texas, the Desert Southwest and California: plant in fall or early spring; in the desert, give a little afternoon shade in summer.
• Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic, Southern Plains and the Pacific Northwest: plant in spring or early fall in the best-drained spot you have.
• Northeast, Midwest, Mountain West and Northern Plains: plant in spring after the last frost. Common thyme is a hardy perennial in most of these areas when drainage is good.
• Hawaii: grow in pots or raised beds in drier spots. Alaska: plant in late spring; often grown as an annual or in pots.

Choosing a variety

• French and English thyme are the most popular for cooking. French thyme has narrower leaves and a sweeter flavor.
• Lemon and other citrus thymes add a fresh citrus scent for fish, chicken and tea.
• Creeping and woolly thymes are mostly ornamental ground covers for paths and rock gardens.

How to plant

1. Start with nursery plants, divisions or rooted cuttings; seed germinates unevenly and is slow.
2. Plant at the same depth as the pot, about 12 inches apart, in well-drained soil without rich compost.
3. Water in, then water only when the soil has dried out.
4. Mulch with gravel rather than bark to keep the crown dry.

Watering and feeding

Thyme tolerates drought well. Water deeply only when the soil is dry, and keep potted thyme on the dry side, especially in winter.

It needs little or no fertilizer; rich soil gives soft growth with less flavor.

Pruning and care through the year

• Trim lightly after flowering and whenever plants get leggy to keep them compact.
• Older plants become woody. Renew them every few years by cutting back hard in spring, or replace them with new plants from cuttings or divisions.
• In cold, wet winter areas, a light mulch of evergreen boughs helps, but keep heavy, wet mulch off the crown.

Harvesting

Snip the top 2 to 3 inches of stems as needed once plants are established, leaving plenty of growth behind. For drying, UF/IFAS suggests cutting the top third of the plant when it is in full bloom and spreading it on paper in a well-ventilated room. Strip the dried leaves and store them in a jar.

Growing in pots

Thyme grows well in a pot at least 6 inches wide with a gritty, free-draining mix and ample drainage. Plants can be potted up in fall and grown all winter in a bright, sunny window, kept on the dry side.

Using it

Use thyme in soups, stews, roasts, stuffings, tomato sauces and with mushrooms. It holds its flavor in long cooking and dries well.

Propagation and saving seed

Thyme is much easier to propagate from divisions or cuttings than from seed. Divide clumps in spring, or root 2 to 3 inch tip cuttings in a gritty mix. Stems that touch the ground often root on their own and can be cut off and replanted.