Thyme Growing Guide

Thymus vulgaris

Thyme

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous 

Soil

Any average, well drained soil enriched with compost.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Winter hardy.

Feeding

Drench plants with a water soluble organic plant food one month after setting them out.

Spacing

Single Plants: 30cm (11") each way (minimum)
Rows: 30cm (11") with 40cm (1' 3") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Start with a purchased plant or sow seeds. Frost areas start seeds indoors in early spring. Frost free, sow in seed trays or seed beds in early spring. Good culinary thyme can be grown from seed, but some creeping forms are propagated only from rooted cuttings or divisions.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Creeping forms make sturdy ground covers. Bees are attracted to pink thyme flowers.

Harvesting

Gather sprigs as needed in the kitchen. Gather stems for drying in summer, before the plants bloom.

Troubleshooting

Plants are often short-lived, so root a few stem cuttings each spring to always have vigorous young plants.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

< Back to All Plants

Pests which Affect Thyme