Thyme 'English Winter' Herb Seeds

Overview

Thyme, English Winter (Thymus vulgaris) is a hardy evergreen perennial and has small aromatic dark green leaves with clusters of small pale pink flowers.

It can therefore be picked all year round and is the classic herb used in 'bouquet garni'. Also is great for stuffings, chicken dishes and stews and is easy to grow from seed and reaches a height & spread of 30cm. The flavour is at it's best from June to July and it does well with freezing & drying or infusing in oil.

It is a great companion plant and deters cabbage root-fly from cabbages, cauliflowers and brussels sprouts but the flowers also attract many beneficial insects to the garden.

Click here for more information

Seed qty (approx)	500
Sowing months	March, April, May, August, September
Site conditions	Sunny, well drained incorporate grit if tendency to be wet.
How to sow	The seed is very fine so mix some with horticultural sand to make it easier to handle. Sprinkle seed thinly on seed trays but cover the seed very very lightly or not at all. Place ideally in a heated propagator or cover with a polythene bag and keep at 20°C. Seed should germinate in 2 weeks. Transplant into small pots when large enough. (Thyme can be multi-sown on to a plug tray to avoid the pricking out stage). When thyme plants are about 10cm tall, 'harden off' for 3-4 days & transplant to garden or container when risk of frost has passed. Plant herbs 30cm apart and add grit to planting hole if soil is not light.
Care	Be careful to keep watering to a minimum as seedlings are prone to 'damping off' and always water from the bottom. Thyme is a woody perennial so after 3 years it will need dividing to encourage fresh vigour and after 5 years it will probably need replacing, but cuttings are easy to take.
Harvest	It can be picked very lightly in it's first year but if possible leave alone in first year and pick from second year. It can be harvested all year round but only lightly in winter as it isn't growing. Once established can be picked all year.
Information	N/A

Email to a Friend