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Preserving Herbs |
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Thyme, English (common) 
Thymus vulgaris
Of all the old-fashioned herbs, thyme is one of the most beloved. Its many varieties are consistently lovely and easy to grow, alone or in combination with other flowers or herbs. Both the foliage and the clusters of tiny flowers are beautiful, varying widely in color depending on the cultivar. The flavor of this plant is essential in many herbal combinations, especially in meat and tomato-based dishes, and is excellent with mushrooms, cheeses, and soups. Honey made by bees feasting from thyme flowers is delicious. Click here for great thyme recipes! Interesting Notes
Ancient Greeks used thyme as a symbol of sacrifice and courage. Thyme, English (common) Growing Tips
This is a good low, bushy plant for combinations, borders, and any landscape. Unlike many other varieties of thyme, it is not trailing. Plant in well-drained but relatively poor soil. Once plants are established they will require little care. Thyme plants are susceptible to fungal diseases; avoid overwatering. Wetting their leaves, while watering, also reduces their fragrance. To keep plants from becoming too woody, cut back plants by one half after flowering, to encourage new growth… To overwinter - keep sheltered from cold winds by mulching. In climates where the temperatures regularly go below 10 degrees F, plants should be heavily mulched, or potted and brought inside to overwinter. If your Thyme becomes woody, divide or replace after 3-4 years. To harvest – harvest leaves as needed, in the morning after dew has dried, before flowering in midsummer. The entire plant may be harvested by cutting plant leaving about 2 inches above the ground. The plant will recover before the end of the season; however, the plant may not be as winter hardy. Plants generally become woody after 2-3 years and should be replaced. Storage – to dry, hang in small bunches – hanging upside down in a warm, dry, dark place. Once dried remove the leaves from the stem and keep whole. Do not crush or grind leaves until ready to use. Store in airtight containers. The ice cube method can be used to store fresh thyme for use throughout the winter. Sowing Information Sowing thyme from seed can be tricky. Indoors - sow the tiny seeds on top of the growing medium and cover with a thin layer of soil mix 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Keep moist until germination. 14-21 days to germination. Transplant in individual containers when plants have four true leaves. To avoid legginess, pinch off growing tips of upright varieties to make bushier plants. Transplant outside when all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 12 inches apart, in rows at least one foot apart. 90-100 days to harvest.Preferred method: take herbaceous cuttings from established plants from new green growth. Root cuttings in fine garden soil or other growing medium, misting daily until well rooted. Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost is passed. For best results, space plants 12 inches apart. Our 2010 shipping season has ended for our plants. All plant orders placed now will ship in April 2011. We do, however, ship seeds year round.
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Characteristics & Attributes for Thymus vulgaris
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