Do you have the thyme?
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Helpful tips for growing Thyme in your garden or landscaping.
Having fresh herbs on hand for cooking is such a treat. It’s so handy to be able to walk out the door and return in a few minutes with a handful of an herb that lifts a dish to the next level. Thyme is a favorite herb for cooking with but we’ve also found it a great addition to our landscaping. We have a few different varieties growing right now. They grow like a weed, only useful!
We have a common thyme growing in the formal herb garden space, but we started some Elfin thyme as a ground cover to grow between the walkways and patio stones.
It’s probably my favorite, so cute, petite and elf like. The Elfin thyme has grown fairly well, surviving the cold of winter to brighten back up and stretch a little farther each year. It also stands up to foot traffic which makes it perfect for patios and walkways.
We also planted a basic creeping thyme from seed alongside the Elfin thyme.
It’s going crazy. It’s like a Chia pet—so perky and happy. And we enjoy the fragrance from it while sitting on the patio. It helps create such a nice and relaxing spot.
This patch popped up from some seed that apparently went awry when they were originally scattered. Look at them grow!
When the seedlings first popped up, I almost pulled them because they were not where they were originally supposed to be. But I sort of like the natural feel of the patio area now. And it smells lovely too!
Thyme is easy to grow and with a hundred varieties or so, there’s probably one that’ll tickle your fancy. Check it out.
Tips for growing thyme:
- Prefers full sun.
- Likes an even supply of water. Avoid over watering.
- Begin growing thyme from seed indoors, or directly in the ground outdoors after last frost.
- Light, well-drained soil, and can handle poor soil conditions fairly well. Prefers a pH of 6.5-7.0, but can grow in a range of 6.5-8.5.
- Thyme grows well in containers. If growing for indoors, make sure to place in a very sunny location.
- Thyme is fairly hardy in many climates, but as with any plant, check specific needs for your area. If you’re in the Unites States, you can check see what zone you live in with on this Hardiness Zone Map.
Is there a herb that you enjoy cooking with? Or do you have an herb you use in your landscaping? Do share! Can’t wait to hear all about it. I’m always looking for new ways to use herbs.
Originally published May 18, 2010. Updated May 13, 2015.
I love Thyme! And I really identify with natural disorder as a state of being! Could be one of the reasons I like Thyme so much 😉 Think I’ll go plant some more as ground cover and just enjoy looking at it with out feeling like I’ve got to cook it up to put it to good use. I love the look of it growing in front of your hydrangea’s. So glad you left it there!
Wow – that’s some healthy, green thyme !I love cooking with fresh herbs and have grown an herb garden for about the last twenty years. Favorites are basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, dill and chives. But I also enjoy trying new ones. This year I have a pineapple sage – smells wonderful when you run your hand over it – and some beautiful lemon thyme.
Oh my! Lovely variety of Thyme you have growing there 🙂 My favorites for cooking are my basil and oregano. For landscaping I am looking at adding St. John’s Wort next year.
Love my thyme, too! And basil! And oregano. Sometimes I just enjoy rubbing a few leaves together and sniffing the wonderful aroma. Your photos are gorgeous!
I love basil! I have a friend who grows a ton and hopefully will give me half a ton. 🙂
I love to grow thyme in one of my wide low pots. It spreads quickly across the top and begins to drip over the sides and looks great sitting on my patio. I am a first year gardener. My husband built me a raised vegetable box (thanks Ree) and I will be planting basil, lemon thyme, parsley, sage, and greek oregano along with three different types of tomatoes, a medley of sweet peppers and jalapeno peppers. Salsa and margaritas all summer long! I can’t wait for those little suckers to arrive in the mail – they are on their way from White Flower Farms.
I love fresh basil…your pics are pretty!
basil is my fave but I love thyme too. Especially the ground cover like you have. Your garden looks dreamy.
I just want to come to YOUR garden.
But for now, I do love my basil and oregano and dill and chives and rosemary- it’s so hard to pick…But if I really had to though, it would be basil. I love my basil.
wow! That was pretty educational for me. I want to grow herbs, but I don’t yet. I grow nothing but weeds – seriously.
Does having all those varieties of Thyme make the place smell like Thyme? Just curious.
I just planted my own little herb garden in my kitchen. Come look!
http://gracethroughourworld.com/2010/05/our-family/herbs/
We have chives in our flower beds that seem to jump from one to another..without our help! I love it and wouldn’t change a thing.
I have a hugh herb garden on my deck. I use the plastic pots with handles, they come in beautiful colors. I have sage and tyme in one bucket. Rosemary and oregano in another. My basil and trailing rosemary in another. I love herb gardening. I think rosemary and basil are my favorites/ hey smell so sweet. and add a really different flavor to your food/
Gorgeous! Fresh thyme is one of my very favorite herbs!
Ummmm…. how much would you charge me to drive up and handle my gardening issues???
Where can you find Elfin Thyme Seed? I am having a difficult time locating seeds for a 40 foot walkway project.