How to Grow Thyme: A Practical Guide from Seed to Harvest
Thyme is one of those herbs that's worth getting established because, once it's growing well, it needs very little attention. It's a small plant, doesn't take up much room and will happily grow in a sunny border, raised bed or pot.
It's a perennial too, so you won't need to sow it again every year. An established plant can provide fresh leaves for years, and the little flowers are very popular with bees and other pollinating insects.
The main thing with thyme is not to be too kind to it. It likes sunshine and good drainage and will cope with dry conditions far better than sitting in cold, wet soil.
You can grow thyme from seed quite easily, although the seedlings are tiny and take a little patience at first. Once they're established, there's really not much to it.
When to Sow
Thyme can be sown from February to May, although March and April are probably the easiest months if you're starting plants under cover.
You can sow earlier if you have somewhere warm and bright, but thyme seedlings are very small and don't grow particularly quickly at first. There's little advantage in producing tiny seedlings in January that then have to struggle through weeks of poor light.
I usually prefer waiting until the days are getting longer.
Sow in pots or trays under cover and keep them somewhere reasonably warm while they germinate.
You can sow later in spring too. Thyme is a perennial, so don't worry if your plants aren't enormous by the end of their first summer. You're getting them established for future years rather than trying to produce everything in one season.
How to Sow
Thyme seed is very small, so this is one of those sowing jobs where a little care helps.
Fill a small pot or seed tray with fine seed compost and gently firm the surface. Water the compost before sowing and allow any excess to drain away.
Sprinkle the seeds thinly over the surface.
Don't bury them deeply. Cover with a very light layer of compost or vermiculite, or simply press the seeds gently onto the surface.
Keep the compost moist while you're waiting for germination, but don't make it soaking wet.
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