Once you have them in the pots or garden, then you can let them grow. Your garden and kitchen will appreciate the effort! soil (6 to 8 pH), the plant should grow with no problems. For long-term storage, harvest longer stems of thyme so that you can hang them to dry. Allow at least five inches of growth to remain so that the plant has enough left in reserve to flourish. While many herbs can be grown from seed, thyme is more difficult. Depending on the exact type of thyme you’re planting, you may need anywhere from 12 to 30 inches of total space. After harvesting thyme, you can use an herb prepper to quickly strip the leaves off the stems and add them to your recipes. This herb is originally from the Mediterranean, making it a drought-resistant and easy-to-grow plant. Like many other herbs, it does not require fertilizer during the growing season. The closer you get to the morning, the better. Snip the sprig off the plant. Interestingly, this one only has flowers in the summer, contrasting with most thymes that bloom in spring. That’s why its taste is not the most flavorful, being milder than the typical thyme. To harvest thyme for drying, go through your plants with a pair of sharp scissors or garden clippers. While the plant doesn’t grow longer than 10 inches, its leaves look even greener than grass. Instead of purple, the flowers look white and dense. After you’ve dried your thyme, storing it in the right containers will help it to keep its freshness and last for a long time. Luckily, it doesn’t always grow this way, especially in pots. Now that you learned. That’s why we recommend mixing standard potting soil with a mild fertilizer. It can make your garden look outstandingly appealing with its white (and sometimes pink) flowers. If the soil, either on a pot or garden, still looks humid, then don’t. Any time you harvest, always leave at least 5” of growth on the plant so that it can recover. Your best options are to buy small plants from your local garden center or propagate your own plants by cuttings. At this point, you can either store the whole stems of thyme or strip the leaves off for quicker use later. Instead of harvesting, you may want to keep it compact before spring arrives. It grows quickly in sunny, hot conditions but can also withstand cold winters. Remember, thyme needs well-drained soil with a bit of fertilizer to thrive. You can still harvest after flowering, but the flavor is best beforehand. Space your plants about 12 inches apart, although exact spacing will depend on the variety you’re growing. As the name says, the Hi-Ho thyme grows with a slightly silver color. Follow our advice to ensure that. You can grow it in places as hot as 90 degrees Fahrenheit without problems. You can find it with lush green and white flowers. Now that you learned how to harvest thyme, it’s time to put your hands to work. Leave behind at least five inches of growth, so that the plant can still flourish. When cutting leaves and stems, try to not leave less than 5 inches of the plant back. This post contains affiliate links. You can leave it without water for several weeks, and it should still grow naturally. Here’s how to do it. • How To Harvest and Dry Basil – Basil is a great herb to grow that can be harvested throughout the summer growing season. Now that you know how to grow thyme and harvest thyme, why not consider growing and harvesting other herbs like oregano and basil? Overall, however, this is a way easier method than growing from seeds. Some may be affiliate links, meaning we earn commissions on purchases. Really, the more you trim your thyme, the more it grows. Obviously, it is thyme we’re talking about. Fire and foremost, make sure you’re starting at the right season. Try to cut leaves before the sun rises or as close to the morning as you can. While we’re talking about thyme in general, it would be great for you to know that there are actually many types to consider. Producing eye-catching flowers in the spring, thyme attracts tons of helpful insects and keeps unwanted pests away. Depending on the variety, plants should be spaced 12-24” apart. Cut off the stems and rinse them. In fact, it is a drought-resistant plant. After reading how difficult it can be to plant thyme, you may feel like it’s way too hard. This should prevent any unwanted moisture from damaging the plant in cold environments. Parsley will grow indoors all winter, but if your parsley is growing outdoors, you should harvest the whole plant before the first frost hits. One of the worst enemies of thyme is the spider mite. How to Harvest Thyme Its taste is slightly citric. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular updates. Whether from seeds or cuttings, a bit of liquid fertilizer should keep the soil prosperous for the plant to grow faster. Good air flow will help the herbs dry more quickly, so place them in a well-ventilated location. For daily use, you can use a small herb container to hold thyme for cooking. Either way, take care not to crush the leaves. If you have paper bags, cut air slits in them and place each bunch of thyme into its own bag. Where helpful to the reader, some posts may contain links to products. When it comes to growing thyme, you have quite a few choices. If the soil looks humid for one reason or another, then don’t water. Thyme can also make a lovely ornamental plant and ground cover. thyme consistently. Colored like lime and exerting a strong scent, the lime thyme is one of the most ornamental out there. How to Grow Thyme. You’ll know your herbs are properly dried when the leaves are crispy and crumbly. When it blossoms, the leaves achieve a grayish color that attracts pollinators. Feel free to go out and snip off small pieces of stem whenever you need some leaves for a recipe. Do about 6-8 stems per bunch and make sure all the cut ends are together. Especially if you love its taste and flavor, it will make an amazing addition to your garden. Just like mint, it has a hard time germinating. You usually harvest thyme in the summer because you want to do it before the plant blooms. Your cuttings should start to root within 6 weeks. Growing it from seed means you plant the seed and treat the seeds until it grows to be a bush of thyme that you can harvest. For better results, we recommend a mildly fresh environment. Here, we recommend watering once a week when the soil looks entirely dry. Thyme is a staple culinary herb but can also be grown as an ornamental plant in the garden. when it’s time. Thyme is an herb, part of the mint family (Lamiaceae) like catnip, oregano, and basil. Go through the same prepping process as you would for air drying. Other than that, you can gather as much or as little as you want depending on what you’re going to use it for when harvesting thyme. This will allow the more tender stems on the thyme plant to harden off some before the cold comes and will make it so you have less dieback on the thyme plant over the winter. Many gardeners enjoy growing it as a ground cover for this reason and because it will thrive in drier soils that other plants won’t. Knowing how to dry thyme can help you preserve the fresh delightful scent and flavor of this herb for easy home use. Name – Thymus Family – Lamiaceae Type – condiment. In cold seasons, keep it indoors, in the warmest places possible. But you’ll have to buy many seeds from that (which could feel a bit expensive). Treillage Online is a website where you can find answers to all of your gardening questions. The rest you can store in a larger glass container or jar. A mix of mild fertilizer may add extra nutrients to the plant, precisely what it needs to grow fast and large. Thyme is most potent just before it flowers, but you can harvest leaves whenever you need them. This should improve the nutrients for the plant to produce its roots faster. Thyme is a very fragrant herb used in many different cuisines to flavor dishes. It’s safe to say that thyme is one of the most problematic herbs to grow from seeds. History of Thyme There’s a lot to know about this versatile herb so let’s jump in. You generally need to place cuttings at about 0.5 inches from the surface. And with its pink flowers, it makes any garden look fantastic. Interestingly, it is also gorgeous. Generally, you should leave one seed every 5 or so inches. The only requirement to grow a thyme plant is light. Not necessarily tropical, but somewhere with occasional rain and morning mist should get it growing faster. When harvested, for example, it makes for an unbeatable addition to most plates. Either way, it is the one you’re more likely to find in supermarkets and shops. If you leave it out, it may die. Really, the more you trim your thyme, the more it grows. There are both culinary and ornamental varieties of thyme. Whether from seeds or cuttings, a bit of liquid fertilizer should keep the soil prosperous for the plant to grow faster. But if you’re starting from cuttings, then you should plant once frosts have passed. Plant them in a pot and leave them to grow for about 4 weeks (cuttings) and 8 weeks (seeds). Just like all perennial, thyme will grow better when cut before flowering. But you can do so in late summer as well. Give them away if possible. Water in dry spells and harvest often to keep them in a good shape. As long as it has proper sun exposure and it’s free of pests, it should prosper. We recommend pruning at the start of spring. Regular pruning not only encourages more growth, but also promotes a … Aphids and spider mites can be a problem with thyme plants that grow indoors. Next, lay them out in a single layer on a couple of kitchen towels. You should start seeing results between the first two weeks. Here’s a list of the most popular thyme species to think about: First off, let’s start with the most common of all – the English thyme. If the plant is blossoming, you’ve lost your chance. The ornamental varieties are still edible, but they won’t have as strong a flavor because they have been cultivated for their appearance. When the plant starts growing its second year, you should. Here are step by step instructions to harvesting, and drying, basil. Light . Imagine what more other dishes you can experiment with and what other products to create if you grow and harvest your own rosemary plant. Cooking with Thyme If you can ensure up to 10 hours, that would be even better. However, here are some tips for getting your plants started the right way and caring for them so that you can get a good harvest later: Thyme is a difficult herb to start from seed because it can be tough to get a good germination rate. Thyme, as a perennial herb, has this capacity. How can I keep my spinach plants producing leaves? Crush leaves right before adding them to recipes and enjoy the pungent, herbaceous flavor. From soil preparation to landscaping, we will guide you on the way to becoming a pro gardener. Wash the thyme in cool water. Thyme nurtures pretty aggressively and can grow as tall as 12 to 18 inches so you will need to allocate a pretty wide distance between each plant, about 12 to 14 inches apart. Using kitchen string or garden twine, tie each bundle together at the bottom. The best time to cut your plant is first thing in the morning. You can use the cuttings for cooking if necessary. For drying, harvest plants when they begin to bloom. What’s even worse, it requires north of 28 days to germinate. Thyme is an easy to grow herb that doesn’t require much attention once it’s established. Because it originated in the Mediterranean, thyme likes well-drained soils and lots of sunshine. The thyme won’t necessarily need much fertilizer. Usually when harvesting herbs you want to cut right above a growth node to encourage the plant to branch out at this point. Otherwise, get it right onto garden soil with at least 24 inches of space between other plants. Similar to its cousins, thyme produces a strong smell and flavor. Different varieties have different colored leaves, and the tiny white, purple, or pink flowers are very attractive. The only requirement to grow a thyme plant is light. Two or more crops may be gathered during the season. Usually, this will be one of the lowest settings. For the best results, grow thyme in a location that receives morning sun and an additional 4-6 hours of sunlight during the day. Then, lay out the thyme stems in a single layer on the dehydrator trays. Now you can pour the soil on the pot(s). Generally, it needs about 6 weeks to root on new soil. When you’re ready to harvest your thyme, all you need is a pair of garden clippers and a basket or container for harvesting thyme. Here, Monty Don plants up a pot of Mediterranean herbs, including thyme. Otherwise, get it right onto. Also, keep the plant free of diseases by preventing moisture. Look at the instructions that came with your food dehydrator to find what temperature you need to dry them at. Aloe Vera Plant Turning Brown? Harvest a few leaves from each plant at any one time from early spring to late autumn. To keep your plants going, all you need to do is prune thyme and take cuttings every year or two so that you always have new plants growing. You can harvest thyme in the summer, but also as late as the fall. In fact, it is a drought-resistant plant. Make sure it is well-pressed so the soil doesn’t loosen up after planting. it’s time to put your hands to work. To make sure you get a positive outcome, follow these quick tips: Remember, harvesting thyme can be a fantastic experience for its scent and taste. Shake off the excess water and pat the sprigs dry with a clean paper towel. This ensures that the leaves are very crispy. Apart from that, you should keep it away from rain (too much moisture) and excess heat. Generally, this means leaving it under the sun for at least 6 hours a day. Just place your clean-cut herb trimmings into a jar with a little bit of water, and allow them to soak up sunlight from a window. You can also use a food dehydrator to dry your thyme more quickly. Leaving them whole helps to retain the maximum amount of flavor for the longest time. That often means the last few weeks of winter or starting spring. Cut leaves from the outer portions first so your parsley can focus on growing new leaves from the center of the plant. Plant thyme in free-draining soil or compost, and water in. Harvest in bulk at the end of the season. Gently wash them off first to get rid of dirt before tying them up in bunches. Prepare some small pots with a moistened growing medium. You will need to water plants in long dry spells, especially if you’re growing them in containers, but only water when the soil is almost completely dry. You can improve the process by seeding a large area. You can harvest thyme at any point during the growing season once your plants are large enough. Check your containers a few times during the first couple weeks of storage to make sure there isn’t any condensation. Planting shouldn’t take long either. Thyme is a perennial Herb that will give you years and years of growth of this delicious and widely used herb. Try to do this as you harvest thyme, but don’t worry too much if you can’t find the growth nodes. The leaves are small and close together, so it isn’t as critical. Sometimes, it grows variegated leaves. Cut a few inches of growth but leave the woodiest parts of the plant behind. Cut off the top 5-8” of growth, leaving tough and woody parts behind. Thyme will take about 2-3 weeks to become completely dry, but the exact time frame will depend on the conditions and humidity level. Either way, it would be ideal if you learn about them before choosing. It’s best to buy small plants from your local nursery or start from cuttings. It forms a low-growing and evergreen plant with tiny, very fragrant leaves. Thyme is an herb, part of the mint family (. There’s a lot about this fragrant and strong-tasting herb to enjoy. And if you want the herb to last over 6 months, then freeze it. How do you harvest thyme so it keeps growing? If you’re interested in what this gorgeous and tasty herb has to offer, then keep reading! Keep an eye on your cuttings for the next few weeks and make sure the soil doesn’t dry out. Thyme seldom needs watering; it does best on the dry side. Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil out in your garden or in containers. Harvest thyme as soon as the plant has plenty of foliage. If you still want to water it from time to time, only do it when the soil is dry. It typically grows lush green but sometimes can have slightly different colors like silver and touches of white. Harvest thyme just before the plant flowers by cutting off the top five to six inches of growth. But as a perennial herb, it still needs a bit of care that could make it thrive exactly how you want. This one grows almost anywhere. This could also affect its fragrance and taste, making it mild. But even if you ensure all these factors, the seeds may not germinate. Once you’ve done this with all the cuttings, put them somewhere warm and protected. Once established, your plants will be pretty much care-free, but you do need to give them some extra attention as seedlings. Remove the stems now, unless you plan to eat them. Regularly harvest from your plants to keep them from getting scraggly. Thyme is a member of the mint family and will spread easily when it’s happy with the growing conditions. You can harvest thyme at any point during the growing season once your plants are large enough. Here’s what you need to know about growing thyme and how to harvest thyme for cooking and storing. We recommend mulch and compost as the best mix. Thyme still needs some care even if you plant it from cuttings. To store thyme long term, it needs to be dried and placed in air-tight containers. You can cut stems any length as long as you leave at least 4-5” of growth behind so that your plants can bounce back. The flowers may develop a golden tone. 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