Everything Thyme - How to Grow and Harvest Thyme - Herb Gardening

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Thyme is a great herb to try if you're just starting out as it is easy to grow and is a perennial. If you let it flower, it will produce tiny white, pink, or purple flowers that add to the visual appeal of your garden, while not detracting too much from herb flavor. Plant up front as this is a short growing perennial. 

Burning thyme can help reduce insects in house or yard. 

Thyme has many medicinal uses. Thyme has been known as a natural antibiotic. Some use for gargling or tea to help treat cold sores, bad breath, allergies, and the common cold. It can be used external as a hot compress to help relief chest congestion, though I have not tried this myself. It has been said to help improve blood circulation as well as treating nail or foot fungus when used as a soak. Can be applied to cuts/scraps to help prevent infection or used in toothpaste. People have used for acne and rashes as well. Thyme may help relax tense muscles helping relieve headaches. Thyme oil can still be found in some cough syrups as well. Finally, thyme has been used to help purify water in several countries across Europe. 



Substitute Dry Thyme for Fresh Thyme : 2 Tbsp dried Thyme = 1 Handful Fresh Thyme

As for cooking, thyme pairs extremely well with poultry and dressing. Lemon thyme is commonly made into tea. 

Growing thyme is very easy. You can plant either in the ground or in a container. Thyme is an evergreen, perennial plant. While the most pungent thyme should be harvested before flowering, I prefer to wait and enjoy the lovely flowers before harvesting. Thyme pairs well next to tomatoes or cabbage, especially as it can deter the cabbageworm. It will tend to grow well next to any herbs or vegetables though. 

Thyme is a full sun plant. This means 8-10 hours of sunlight a day. It will still grow with much less sun, and even mostly shade, however, your plant growth will be stunted and you may need to wait quite a bit longer to harvest. It grows well in zones 4-10. You will want to plant seeds 12-24 inches apart after the last frost of the year or in the fall to allow the plant to germinate at a time of it's choosing. Thyme will grow better from cuttings. See how to take a cutting here. Water regularly, but ensure well drained soils and allow soil to completely dry between waterings.

Cut off  the top 5-6" of stems with a sharp scissors. Morning is when the essential oils will be the strongest and if leaves are clean, avoid rinsing. When trimming, be sure to leave ~1/3 plant or 5" of growth to promote future growth. Harvest more lightly the first year to ensure the plant comes back the following year. Stop harvesting in early fall. 

Once you've picked your thyme, either use immediately, refrigerate for up to 3 days or dry. A few methods of drying thyme can be used. Keep in mind that drying will reduce flavor, but will be much more flavorful than store bought herbs.
  • Dehydrator - follow manufacturer instructions (likely 7 hours at 100 degrees)
  • Baking at 350 until crisp
  • Hang Dry - Hang thyme stalks upside down until dry
  • Lay flat on cookie cooling rack, turning periodically until crisp.

Remove leaves from stems for easiest storage. Store in airtight container in freezer for best flavor or simply an airtight container. 

Recommended: Wear gloves when pulling leaves (needles) from stems. Thyme can be sharp and cause discomfort. 

For great recipe ideas view Thrifty Cooking posts.

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