Flowers: Use flowers in salads as a garnish.Fresh or dried leaves can be added to salads, sauces, stocks, soups, stews, stuffings, beef, pork, poultry, fish, seafood, sausages, vegetables, honey, cheeses, eggs, rice, grains, bread, beans, dressings, and vinegar. Leaves: Use leaves to accent many dishes.Thyme is considered a “background” herb it is rarely the major seasoning in a dish but it adds complexity. The aroma of thyme can be described as earthy it is subtle, unlike other herbs. Flavor and aroma: The flavor of thyme is a bit earthy with lemony, peppery, and minty tones.Cut back thyme to about 3 inches high twice during the growing season to encourage vigorous growth. Trim back the tops of woody branches with a garden pruner. How to harvest: Snip leaves with a garden snip or scissors.For drying, harvest plants when they begin to bloom. The flavor of thyme leaves will be most intense before the flowers open. When to harvest: Snip thyme leaves as needed once plants are 6 to 8 inches tall.Botrytis rot can be treated with a fungicide avoid planting plants too close together. ![]() Avoid root rot by keeping plants out of wet areas. Diseases: Thyme is susceptible to fungal diseases and root rot.Pests: Aphids, mealybugs, spider mites may attack thyme knock insect pests off of plants with a strong stream of water or spray pests with insecticidal soap.Protect outdoor plants under a layer of mulch-chopped leaves or straw-in winter. Winter growing: Bring thyme indoors in winter for winter harvest or start plants indoors for growing through the winter.Over-winter containers in a protected place. Choose a container with a minimum soil depth of 6 inches. Container growing: Thyme grows easily in containers.Thyme growing with mint, sage, and oregano in a kitchen window Container Growing Thyme Mulching: Protect plants from freezes with a mulch of chopped leaves, straw, or evergreen branches.Divide thyme every three years so that they do not become woody. To keep thyme from becoming woody, prune plants back by one-third in spring and again after flowering in summer. Scratch a teaspoon of cottonseed or bonemeal around the base of each plant at the start of the season. Feeding: Spray foliage with compost tea 2 or 3 times during the growing season.Thyme requires little watering once established once established thyme grows best in soil that is on the dry side. Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist until plants are well-rooted.The fragrance of thyme is said to repel pest insects and mask the smell of plants that attract pest insects. Plant thyme with hyssop, garlic, chives, and rosemary. Companion planting: Thyme is said to benefit all cabbage family plants, eggplant, potatoes, strawberries, and tomatoes.How much to plant: Grow 6 plants for cooking grow 10 to 18 plants for preserving.Spacing: Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart when they are 2 to 3 inches tall.You can take cuttings or divide older plants in spring. Outdoor planting time: Thyme can be sown outdoors as soon the soil can be worked in spring, usually 3 or 4 weeks before the last frost.Thyme can also be grown from cuttings or divisions taken in spring or early summer. Transplanting to the garden: Transplant thyme seedlings to the garden once the last frost has passed. ![]() Seeds can take as long as 30 days to germinate. Start seed indoors at a soil temperature of 70☏ under fluorescent lights. Seed starting indoors: Sow thyme indoors as early as 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost in spring. ![]() Thyme growing in the garden When to Plant Thyme Soil too rich in organic matter will produce plants that are large but less fragrant.
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