Thyme Time

Hello!! So we're starting the series of posts that basically keep updates on the planning for next year. As I have mentioned in numerous other posts, I really want to try to start an herb garden of sorts. We will of course keep planting tomatoes, squash, etc. but I think that it would be interesting to try to plant herbs. Plus we already have lavender in the garden.

Alright, so we're starting off with just a profile of thyme. I'll just be listing off stuff like the time it should be planted, general appearance, how to harvest, etc. I'm actually using books for reference for this information (are you proud :D). I got these books at a bag of book sale at the Roxbury Library. 10/10 would recommend going to one of those since for basically $5 you get a bag that you can fill with as many books as possible. The only downside is the limited books at the book sale.

Anyway, back to gardening! I'll just be listing the information for the most common type of thyme, which is actually called common thyme. There are of course a multitude of varieties but I think this is the type that we already have seeds of in the basement.

Common Name: Common Thyme, English Thyme, Garden Thyme

Scientific Name: Thymus vulgaris

Appearance: low growing; aromatic, small, rounded, oval, gray-green foliage; small lilac flowers that appear late spring to midsummer; mature stems turn woody; remains green in winter

Type: hardy, partly woody perennial

Height: ~ 8-12 inches

Location: full sun; well-drained soil; garden loam

Planting: plant nursery-grown plants in early spring, 6-9 inches apart; plant seeds in midspring in shallow rows 1 ft. apart, thin seedlings to 6 inches apart once established

Harvesting: pick leaves as needed; 2 months when flowering, leaves lose flavor

Drying: cut plants just before flowers open in early summer; can dry leaves

Propagation: every 3-4 year, divide established plants in spring

Other: attracts bees

The books I used were The Herb Book by Arabella Boxer, The Essential Gardener by Derek Fell, and the Illustrated Guide to Gardening from Reader's Digest.

Don't forget that this Tuesday, we have a garden meeting for cleaning up. Hope to see you there!!