Thymus vulgaris
If you could put summertime in a bottle and save it , it would probably smell a pile like thyme .
The recurrent culinary herb has always been colligate with the scents and flavor notes of the time of year for me because of how fertile it is in my garden at this time of year .
Thyme is a name given to many herbs in theThymusgenus , which is made up of over 350 species , but the most common one used for culinary and ornamental purposes isT. vulgaris , which we ’ll focalise on here .
The three most popular varieties ofT. vulgarisare English , French , and German thyme .
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All are low - develop , woody shrub , with low roundish leaves and regal flowers . Part of the great deal ( Lamiaceae ) home , thyme is known for its many culinary , medicinal , and ornamental US .
record on to memorise about turn this versatile , easygoing herb and its long and storied past .
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Sow
How to Grow
Cultivars to Select
upkeep
Pests and Disease
harvest
Preserving
Cooking theme
Landscape enjoyment
Medicinal Uses
Thyme has been utilized by humans for over two millenary , and its existence as a species predates human sapiens , with evidencediscovered in fogey remainsthat are over five million years old .
One of the early known U.S. of this herb was in ancient Egypt , where it was used for embalming the beat and was think to assist them on their way of life as they passed on to the next life .
Common name(s):Common or culinary thyme
Plant type : repeated woody herb
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):3 - 11
aboriginal to : Mediterranean
Season : Summer
Exposure : Full sun
Soil type : sandlike , loamy , well enfeeble
Soil pH:6.5 - 8.5 , somewhat acidic to alkaline
sentence to maturity:70 days
Spacing : 12 - 24 inch
Planting profundity : control surface inseminate or light cover ( seeds )
age size:12 - 18 in wide x 5 - 18 column inch gamy
Water pauperism : Low
Taxonomy
club : Lamiale
Family : Lamiaceae
Genus : Thymus
Species : vulgaris
cultivar : English / Common , French / Summer , German / Winter
Ancient Romans believed it to be a utile antidote to poison . Emperors would often let in this herb in their meals and even scented their bath with it .
It was also during this era that it was found as a symbol of bravery .
Later , in the Middle Ages , soldiers were often given fragrance that include thyme as they were charge into battle .
And prior to the advent of forward-looking medicine , due to its natural antiseptic property , thyme oil was used to medicate bandages .
What was fiddling understood then can be confirmed by science today , with the alive ingredient thymol showingdistinct antibacterial activity in studies .
T. vulgarishas also been hybridized with other specie in the genus to produce newfangled variety include my own personal favorite , maize thyme ( T. citriodorus ) .
Thyme grows well from seed , which you may purchase or glean yourself .
Harvest seeds from plant in the fall once prime have dried up and seeded player heads have turned brown .
It ’s full to burgeon forth seed indoors in a see space at around 70 ° F , in indirect light .
To depart from seed :
Keep unseasoned industrial plant well - weeded , especially as they become established , as they can be well overpower by tumid , more belligerent plants .
Thyme can also propagated easily from cuttings , layering , or partition . discover how to do it here .
Thyme is drought resistant and thrives on disregard .
arise from the Mediterranean , it typically grow on dry , sandy , and/or rocky well - draining land in the natural state , in full Sunday .
As with all plants , the nigh you may come to vivify the condition of its natural habitat , the better it will do .
This plant is known to grow cursorily , peculiarly the creep cultivars . Ensure that plants are spaced at around 12 to 24 inches apart , reckon on the specific variety .
Light
Thyme love the sun . Give it a spot that meet at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily . This herb wo n’t thrive in shade , so do n’t tuck it under a grandiloquent plant or tree .
Full sun encourages dense , compact increment and enhance the production of those strong essential oils that give thyme its signature tune smell and discernment .
This plant also does well indoors as long as it receives at least six time of day of direct brightness per day , with eight hours being ideal . Supplemental develop lightscan secure it receive enough Light Within to stay healthy and flavorful .
Soil
Poor , rough soil ? Thyme does n’t mind one second . In fact , it does better in gritty , well - draining earthly concern than in soil that holds too much wet .
direct for flaxen or loamy soil . If your ground is heavy or rich , work in plenty of compost to better drain . Sand or grit may function in some soils , but it can make some clay based soils as hard as concrete when it dry out out .
Thyme prefers a neutral pH but will tolerate ground that ’s between 6.5 and 8.5 on the pH scale .
Temperature and Humidity
Thyme prefers temperatures between 65 and 85 ° F ( 18 - 30 ° ampere-second ) and can survive teetotal warmth with ease . Just avoid embed in areas with extremely high humidity or arduous rainfall , which can run to fungal government issue .
It should be protected with a profound mulch in frigid climates inUSDA Hardiness Zones4 - 6 to survive the wintertime outdoors .
Although many source listT. vulgarisas develop only in Zones 5 and up as a recurrent , other sources sustain my own experience that certain varieties can grow outdoors twelvemonth - round in Zone 4 , or even Zone 3 .
However , it is even more authoritative in colder zones to plant plants in sandy , well - draining soil as thyme hat being embedded in crank when the ground freezes – something I learned the hard way when I lost all my plant in a silty part of my garden one wintertime .
Water
This is not a thirsty herbaceous plant . Thyme thrives on disuse when it comes to tearing . Let the dirt dry out completely between waterings . Too much moisture can make root rot , particularly in backbreaking or badly draining soils .
give industrial plant only take supplemental water during prolonged dry spell . In containers , piss when the top in of territory feel dry — but do n’t have the industrial plant sit in waterlogged soil .
Fertilizer
This plant needs little if any fertilization . In fact , fertilize with too much nitrogen may cause faster increment at the expense of spirit .
If your dirt is totally devoid of nutrients , however , fertilizing with a relatively sapless fertiliser with downcast nitrogen at the beginning of the growing time of year will hike up growth .
Neptune ’s harvest home Pisces Fertilizer
Neptune ’s harvest home Pisces photographic emulsion , available from Arbico Organics , would work nicely .
As always , ensure not to overfertilize and considertesting your soilbefore indiscriminately fecundate your plants ..
Container Growing
Thyme thrives in containers , create it thoroughgoing for patios or sunny windowsills . pick out a pot with honest drainage — unglazed terracotta is ideal — and fill it with a gritty , well - draining mix like cactus soil or a blend of pot soil and George Sand .
Place it in full sun for at least six minute a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . Water when the top in of territory is ironical , and fend off overwatering . Trim regularly to promote shaggy-coated growth and prevent the plant life from becoming woody .
When cultivating in a container , a low-down strength fertilizer such as AgroThrive ™ General Purpose Fertilizer , available from Arbico Organicscan be applied once per month .
AgroThrive ™ General Purpose Fertilizer
Repot annually in fresh soil , and move to a larger container if roots start circling the base .
Companion Planting
These plants are good neighbor . They are thought toprovide innate blighter controlwith their aroma and essential oil color , and they draw pollinators when they ’re in bloom .
in effect fellow traveller plant for thyme include brassicas , nightshades , roses , and strawberries and other fruiting plant .
Do n’t plant anything with thyme that like wet feet .
T. vulgarisis often rule in one of several varieties , with the most common being English , French , and German types , but there are a few other varieties as well .
English/Common
As its name suggest , English or vulgar thyme is the most plebeian mixed bag of this species in polish , and it is often sold dry out for culinary use .
If not otherwise bespeak , recipes by and large call for English thyme . It is well used for seasoning kernel and stew and is known to have a stronger tone than the German or Gallic varieties .
Like most otherT. vulgarisvarieties , the English type has small light purple flowers , though it has slimly pointier leaf than the other varieties , and a reddish stem .
Common Thyme
It develop five to 18 inches in tiptop with a spread of up to 16 inches and is suited for Zones 4 - 8 , though some sources heel it as grow best in Zones 5 - 11 .
Potted industrial plant in set of three , or packet of 1800 seeds areavailable from Burpee .
French/Summer
Often used in French and French - influence preparation , this is the type used in herbes de Provence blending .
With a subtler flavor visibility than its English counterpart , Gallic thyme is more suited to cuisine involve more delicate flavors such as seafood and quiches .
It ’s known to have a more marked sweetness and slenderly less mess and clove tone than the others .
French Thyme
Gallic thyme spring up eight to 12 inches magniloquent and wide , is less frigid hardy than German and English eccentric , and is suit to USDA Hardiness Zones 5 - 11 .
Seeds areavailable at dependable Leaf Market .
German/Winter
German thyme is very standardised to the English variety , though it ’s slightly more frigid hardy , has more rounded leaves , and miss the red stem of English and Gallic types .
Its flavor is less intense than that of the English type , though not as insidious as the French .
German Thyme
Also called wintertime thyme , this variety grows 12 to 18 inches eminent and wide , and is at secure at USDA zone 4 - 9 , though some folks produce down to Zone 3 .
Seeds areavailable from unfeigned Leaf Market .
Pruning thyme encourages new growth and forking , which gives you a fuller plant . broadly speaking , the more you trim your plant , the quicker it will turn .
However , never cut more than one - third of your plant in a one - calendar month period during the raise season , and always bequeath at least five inches of growth intact .
Thyme also needs to be weeded more often than some plants since it does n’t grow very densely and its leaves are comparatively small , casting slight shade to blockade out the mourning band .
Thyme does not tend to be bothered by insects much , though the most probable plague are wanderer mites and aphids .
Diseases are also uncommon if institute in well - draining stain , but fungous diseases can be a problem occasionally .
Insects
I have never seen insect of any sort bother my thyme plant , but others have reported the theory of aphids and spider mites becoming a job .
These small white , browned , or black bugs tend to gather on the underside of folio or on the tip of stems .
They de-escalate flora by suck out their juice and can distribute disease through their saliva .
A bush down with one part rubbing alcohol and one part water using a cloth , followed by an insecticidal soap or neem fossil oil spray is in force and should be done weekly until they are gone .
Read aphids in your garden here .
Spider mites , as their name implies , are small wanderer - comparable mites .
It ’s easy to tell if your plants have wanderer mites as there will be a fine web cover their leave of absence andstems .
They suck the juices out of your plants as well and can be control in the same mode as aphid .
Disease
Thyme is most normally affected by fungous disease , including botrytis putrefaction ( Botrytis cinerea ) , rootage rot ( Rhizoctonia solani ) , and Alternaria blight ( Alternaria brassicicola ) .
fond , dampish condition oftenencourage the increase of these fungi .
intervention choice for these fungous diseases are like , and include the pursuit :
Be sure to disinfect your equipment before pruning and between industrial plant .
Mycostop Biofungicide
For more serious shell , you may need to consider using a biofungicide such as Mycostop ’s K61Streptomycesbased fungicideavailable from Arbico Organics .
you could snip off sprig of thyme as needed . However , a mass harvesting can be done yearly during the summer . Pick correctly before the flowers begin to blossom for the best tang .
The best meter of day to harvest is early in the morning , after the dew has dried . This is the time when the aromatic and flavorful substantive oils are the most hard .
Fresh thyme hold out about a workweek , but it can be preserved for months – or even longer .
Nothing beat the flavor of fresh herbs , but when you have too much harvest to habituate fresh or the season is end , you could maintain this versatile herbaceous plant bydrying , freezing , or infusing it in oil .
Our sis site , Foodal , has a helpful guide to making tasty herbed oils .
Not only is thyme delicious , but it ’s also mob with an telling list of vitamins and minerals .
It ’s ample in vitamin C and A. It also contains fiber , iron , manganese , cop , calcium , and vitamin G .
Thyme is a culinary linchpin around the Earth . Used in both fresh and dried form , this herb can resist farsighted preparation times and gamy temperatures and maintain its flavor .
Learn more on our sister situation , Foodal .
It ’s used as part of bouquet garni in French Provençal cookery , wry rubs for English joint , in Arabic stews , and even in dessert .
While thyme is best known for its culinary uses , it ’s also a beautiful plant that fits beautifully in a fragrant ornamental garden .
In landscape gardening , thyme serves as afast - growing ground coveror a border plant for the front of your beds .
As mentioned above , they also make majuscule fellow traveler flora , deter pests and attract bee that help pollinate neighboring plants and ladybugs that eat pests like aphids .
Traditional medicinal uses of thyme admit the treatment of depression , epilepsy , nightmares , concern , and coughs – and many of these uses now have scientific backing .
Someresearch has shownthat certain active ingredients in thyme such as thymol and carvacrol have antioxidant , anti - inflammatory , and antiseptic properties .
At least one study even showed that an extractexhibited antiviral activity against respiratory viruses .
A compound yell thymol extract from thyme fossil oil is also an dynamic factor in commercially available mouthwashes , and is used in manus sanitizers and acne treatments for its antibacterial place .
Well, It’s About Thyme
If you do n’t already have thyme in your garden , it might be clip to consider your selection .
Whether you go for the classic English thyme with its more potent look , the more subtle season French type , the sturdy German variety , or other hybrids , this herb has a mass to offer in your garden and your kitchen .
And for more information aboutgrowing herbsin your garden , check out these guides next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally issue March 9th , 2021 . Last update April 30th , 2025 . Product photos via Arbico Organics , Ocean Crest Seafoods , Agrothrive , Burpee , True Leaf Market , and Lallemand . Uncredited photograph : Shutterstock .
The staff at Gardener ’s Path are not medical professional and this article should not be construed as aesculapian advice intend to assess , diagnose , prescribe , or forebode cure . Gardener ’s Path and postulate the expert , LLC assume no liability for the employment or misuse of the material presented above . Always consult with a aesculapian professional before changing your dieting or using works - based redress or supplements for wellness and health .
About
Trent Rhode
