About thyme: growing, harvesting and drying thyme
Time to talk thyme! Thyme, a medicinal herb and aromatic addition to meals, is uncomplicated to grow and harvest in almost any environment. Follow these tips to start growing thyme in your garden!
Below is an excerpt from The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer, Revised Edition By Jeff and Melanie CarpenterIt has been adapted to the web.
Common Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)
Thyme is a perennial plant with woody leaves. which is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9.
It has a luxurious history of employ and is native to Europe, North Africa and Asia. Thyme is a mint plant and belongs to the mint family. It is a compact, bushy shrub with gritty, woody branches that reaches a height of 6 to 12 inches. The petite leaves of thyme are narrow, lanceolate, and obscure green.
Thyme leaves are extremely aromatic and contain a valuable phenol – thymol, which has antiseptic properties. Thyme flowers consist of clusters of white and purple flowers located at the ends of the branches.
Growing conditions
Thyme is a hardy plant that likes full sun in well-drained, loamy soil. It can also grow at higher elevations and can survive winter in frigid climates if well mulched. Thyme is an undemanding plant, provided it is not grown in soggy, weedy places.
Propagation of thyme
Thyme can be grown by direct sowing, vegetative cuttings, root division or transplanting.Because thyme germinates easily, we sow it in early spring in pots and transplant it to the fields when the plants are already well rooted. Thyme does not easily crowd out weeds.
Replant the plant in neat, weed-free beds and consider applying mulch to reduce weed numbers. The recommended spacing for thyme plants is 12 inches apart, in triple rows with 14 inches between rows within the bed.
Planting Considerations
Thyme may be petite, but it has full-bodied, pleasant aromas and powerful healing propertiesWe like to plant thyme alongside other low perennials like oregano, sage and lavender. These plants have a real affinity for each other and don’t tend to crowd each other out.
This plant is also loved by bees and other pollinators, and is great for gardens located near beehives. Not only does this plant make tasty honey, but its antibacterial components are also believed to benefit the health of insects.
Thyme Harvesting Specifications
We harvest thyme when it begins to flower in tardy summer. This is when the necessary oils are at their highest and the plant has reached the peak of its growth cycle for the season. Mechanical harvesting is arduous due to the compact stature and woody nature of these plants.
We have found that it is easiest to harvest the fruit using very pointed secateurs rather than trying to cut through the woody stems with field knives, which can be time-consuming and taxing on the hands. When collecting shoots, remember to leave an intact part of the plant, which will allow it to regenerate and support it survive the winter.
Post-harvest and post-drying issues
Thyme should be dried at 38–49°C (100–120°F) to preserve its dainty aromatic compounds. To maintain the spirited color and healing properties of thyme, it is best to store it in a place where it will not be exposed to direct lightweight.
In good drying conditions it should dehydrated within a few days. Once dehydrated the leaves will easily detach from the stems. Place the stems through 1/4-inch stainless steel mesh and separate the leaves from the stems.
Recommended reading
The article About Thyme: Growing, Harvesting and Drying Thyme first appeared on Chelsea Green Publishing.