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Growing thyme6/4/2023 ![]() Moreover, this herb’s flowers attract beneficial insects and honey bees. Many detrimental garden pests are deterred by both the scent and taste of creeping thyme leaves and stems because of their potent essential oil. Others may use its fragrance to repel vegetable pests like cabbage worms, cabbage moths, cabbage loopers, tomato hornworms, and potato beetles. Some landscapers use this low-maintenance herb to smother weeds or to fill in the gaps between larger garden plants and shrubs. Planting Thyme with Vegetables and Other PerennialsĬreeping thyme can be used as a companion plant for aesthetic or functional purposes. Thus, drought tolerant perennials like sedums, rosemary, and lavender are generally the preferred options of experienced horticulturists working with creeping thyme. The best thyme companion plants are other herbs that favor well drained soil, full sun to partial shade conditions, and tolerance for dry conditions. Its healthy mats produce dense, fragrant sprays of pink, purple, lilac, or white blooms in summer. Hardy and low-maintenance, thyme forms a strong taproot that can anchor fully grown stems in sloping and rocky areas of the garden. Thyme companion planting is relatively straightforward because of this herb’s tolerance for a wide range of ambient and soil conditions. How do you grow your thyme-in open land, in raised beds, or in containers? Why do you prefer your method? Please tell us your tips and tricks for creating a bountiful thyme garden.Garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a perennial with small foliage and aromatic leaves. Indoor thyme plants will benefit from some fresh air, so take them outside in the summer, starting with a few hours in a sheltered area each day until they become acclimated. It’s easy to do this by dividing the plant and repotting the divisions or simply graduating to a larger pot. Your container-grown thyme should be repotted every year or two. But don’t throw the buds away! Toss them into salads or dry them for sachets or tea. ![]() Removing flowers promotes leaf growth, too. Whether growing thyme in containers inside or out, be sure to cut back woody stems to encourage new growth. Thyme originated in the hot, dry Mediterranean region, so it can handle dry conditions far better than wet. Water your thyme plants thoroughly, but allow the soil to dry out before watering again. However, with thyme, overwatering is a bigger problem because it can cause root rot. Though weeding is much easier with containers, you have to be more vigilant about watering and irrigation as plants can dry out much faster than when they’re in the ground. A mix of sand, potting soil, perlite, and peat moss will provide the right drainage and nutrient environment for your thyme plants. Thyme prefers dry conditions, so a clay pot with a drainage hole makes the best thyme container it will allow the plant to dry out between watering. A southern or western exposure is ideal for growing thyme indoors. Thyme grows best when it has at least six hours of sun, and it can tolerate indirect sunlight. One great advantage to container gardening is the ability to move plants around more easily to maximize their exposure to the sun. Growing thyme in a container inside your home also makes it easy to enjoy fresh thyme year-round, whether or not you have land for a garden. Thyme makes an excellent container plant, whether you choose an upright variety to plant in a pot on the patio or a slow-growing creeper to spill over the edge of a window box. Otherwise, your soil can become less productive for your plants. Raised Bed Planting Tip: Be sure to amend your soil with compost at least once a year. Weeding itself is much easier with raised beds, because you don’t have to get down so far on the ground to remove weeds. You’ll minimize the incidence of weeds overall, which will save you time and effort later. ![]() Plant your thyme in the middle of the raised bed, not along the edges-this will help insulate the plants’ root in winter.Ī raised bed garden is less likely to contain the seeds of weeds that are often found in garden soil. To create nicely contained raised beds for your thyme, enclose your raised beds with wooden sides 8 to 10 inches deep. You’ll discover that watering, irrigation, weeding, and even harvesting are much easier, with items closer to your reach and contained in a space that is more manageable than growing in open land. ![]() Creating raised beds for your thyme garden can be a lot of work the first time you set up your beds, but having raised beds allows you more control over your growing environment. Raised beds are a great option for growing thyme if you have perpetually wet, heavy soil. Thyme and other herbs growing in a raised bed ![]()
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