How to Grow Thyme Indoors and Outdoors from Seed

Choose a relatively dry and well-drained location with full sun exposure and light sandy soils that will drain well. When directly planting seeds, mix some sand into the garden soil to get a drier soil for initially growing the plants. Seedlings grown in pots indoors can be easily transplanted into outdoor locations. Allow about 9 inches (20 cm) between seedlings, and thin seedlings growth from seed to this spacing. Thyme will do in very sunny spots where most other plants won't grow, but avoid shady and wet spots. Thyme grows well in large pots outdoors and looks wonderful in hanging baskets, using the trailing varieties.

Soil and Location for Planting Thyme => Choose an area with light, well drained soil, in full sun.

Time Period from Planting to Harvest => If grown from seed the growth takes about about 12 months, if splitting plants in about 6 months. Thyme also grows well from stem cuttings and these take about 9 months to grow. Don't be tempted to pick the leaves too early from young plants as this could slow down the development of the plants.

Thyme Size and Form => Thyme plants grow to a height of about 30 cm (12in) depending on the variety and are best suited to a rock or low herb garden, along a garden edge of a path, or along the front border of a garden bed. Plant a clump of plants so that you have harvest the group all the time without damaging individual plants.

Where To Grow => Thyme likes a well-drained and light soil as it originated in a dry harsh environment. It the soil is too rich in nutrients the plants will become 'leggy' and will lose their normal compact shape. They need a warm position in full sun.

Propagation => Thyme can be grown in a variety of ways - root division, from cuttings and from seed, but growing from seed will take 12 months. The quickest and best way is to get some roots from a friend or neighbor. In that way you will know that the plants will grow in your area and what the will look like. Stem cuttings work but are hard to do. When starting thyme from seeds, fill a pot with a sandy seed-raising mixture. Sprinkle a handful of seeds over the surface, and just cover them with the potting mix. Cover the pot with a little plastic and water sparingly until germination in about one week. To divide the roots of an established plant - dig it up in late Spring, when the soil is dry, and brush away much soil as possible from the roots. Gently prise the plant apart into three or four pieces. Each of the parts should have both roots and foliage. Once divide the parts can be simply replanted in the ground. They will be ready for moderate level harvesting in about 6 months.

Soil Requirements => Light, well-draining soils that are not too rich. Thyme can be grown in pots in a variety of soils and various soil-less potting mixes that include vermiculite, perlite, rockwool, coco peat and a variety of other organic material sources.

Care of Plants => Thyme requires very little maintenance and little watering except in very dry conditions. Feed with nutrients sparingly, and apply a good mulch of well rotted organic matter each spring.

Expected Useful Life => Thyme will become less prolific for harvesting leaves and tend to become woody after 3-5 years. Plants should be divided as described above, and replanted to encourage new growth to develop. Or the old plants can be replaced.

Harvesting => The Thyme leaves can be harvested right throughout the year, although summer is the best time for the full flavor in the leaves. In cold climates the plants stop growing in winter and so harvest sparingly. The thyme sprigs harvested in summer can be frozen or dried and used throughout the winter months.

Pests and Diseases => Thyme is virtually free of pests and diseases, although some insect pests can be troublesome at times.