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Thyme

Thyme | Growing Guides
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Growing Guides Vegetables and herbs
Perennial and evergreen, thyme is one of the best herbs to grow at home. Once it's established, you'll be able to enjoy fresh home-grown thyme all year round, year after year.
Growing calendar
Sow indoors Mar - Apr
Plant out/transplant May - Jun
Harvest All year round

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How to grow thyme

Sow thyme seed on the soil surface in pots and transplant seedlings 25cm apart. You can also plant bought thyme plants or rooted cuttings taken the in summer.

Choose well-drained soil in a sunny site.

Water your thyme plant until it's established.

Harvesting and using thyme

Pick leaves to use fresh of before flowering for drying, leaving at least 7cm of growth. Thyme is a perennial herb so will crop year after year. It's also evergreen so will keep a mat of leaves over winter.

Tips on growing thyme

Cut back shoot tips to encourage more growth and reduce stem length after flowering to avoid your thyme plants becoming too woody.

Growing notes
Difficulty Easy
Germination time 5-10 days
Average time to harvest From 12 weeks
Equipment needed None
Average plant size Up to 30cm tall and wide
Family group to grow with Lamiaceae: mint, sage
Seed saving notes Perennial, can cross-pollinate
Key nutritional content Fresh: Calcium, zinc, vitamin A

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