Thyme
Thyme is from the mint family, a perennial herb whose
sub varieties include the narrow-leafed French thyme and broad-leafed English thyme.
Its foliage is attractive, the long-lasting flowers are very pretty and it
is a compact easy-care plant. Thyme, small, pungent leaves grow on stems
up to 1 foot tall. White to lilac flowers appear in late spring to early
summer. Thyme reaches a height of 30 cm (12in) and is best suited either
to the rock garden or the front of a border. Sometimes it is grown between
paving stones; it is highly aromatic and when trodden on it's scent is
intensified.
For best flavor cut back before flowers appear. Hold
foliage like a ponytail and shear it to about 6 inches tall. Perennial.
Grow three or four plants.
Culinary uses: Bouquets garnish, breads, casseroles, cheeses, eggs,
fish, grains, marinades, meats, mushrooms, poultry, soups, stews,
tomato-based sauces, and vegetables.
Growing Thyme
It’s best to purchase plants rather than start thyme from seed, since it germinates slowly and unevenly. You can also start plants from cuttings. Thyme thrives in full sun and light well-drained soil. Space plants 9 inches apart. Where winters are very cold, mulch the plants after the ground freezes with a light mulch such as pine needles. Trim the plants a bit in the spring and summer to maintain a neat growth habit and prevent the development of too much woody growth. If you have tight, clay like soil add sand and peat moss to loosen it so your herbs can drain well.
A spring application of fertilizer rich in trace elements, such as seaweed, may increase fragrance and flavor.
You can harvest leaves and sprigs all summer. To dry thyme for storage, harvest sprigs in early fall, tie them together, and hang them upside down in a shady, warm, well-ventilated area to dry. Store leaves in a tightly lidded container. You can also remove leaves from the stem, dry them on a tray, or freeze them.
Thyme is another herb you can grow indoors over the winter months if you live in a cold climate. Make sure you pot it in a loose, rich in nutrients soil. You will need to spray the plant with water once in a while if your inside temperature is warm and dry. Keep it on a window sill or somewhere it will get a lot of light.
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