Harvest tyme full#

However, spring and summer are the best time to harvest thyme. You can harvest from your thyme plants all year if you live in an area where it is evergreen. If you just need a sprig or two for your recipe, it is fine to pick it any time. You can harvest from mature thyme plants at any time, but for multiple harvests wait until your plants have recovered the growth you removed at the last harvest. And a seed-propagated thyme plant should be allowed to grow for around 12 weeks before picking a few leaves or sprigs, but may need to wait 12 months or more before taking a significant harvest.

In contrast, a cutting-propagated plant should be allowed to form roots (around 6 weeks) and then begin to bush out before harvesting. You can pick a nursery plant as soon as new growth appears after replanting or repotting it. The key is to ensure that your plant is healthy and growing vigorously before you harvest it. If you just planted fresh seedlings this year, wait until they reach a height of several inches and begin to bush out before harvesting any significant amount. The size of the plant is the most crucial factor in determining when to harvest thyme. When to harvest thyme When is thyme ready to harvest? Scroll down for the printable step-by-step guide to harvesting thyme, or read on for all the details. If you do this, just one or two full-size plants can provide ample fresh thyme throughout the summer, as well as a batch for storage in the fall. Once mature, it is a hardy plant that you can harvest from multiple times over a season if the right care is taken.Īll you need to know is the best time of year, and the right way to harvest it to encourage growth.

If you grow thyme at home you may be wondering how you can harvest it without damaging the plant to ensure it continues to grow and thrive for years to come. The leaves and flowers can be used in cooking. It is a perennial that can be harvested throughout the summer, and is easy to care for in your home herb garden. Thyme, or Thymus vulgaris as it’s scientifically named, is a Mediterranean herb that is a member of the mint family.

If you are growing thyme in containers, plant with rosemary which also likes sunny conditions and has similar watering needs.Harvesting thyme without damaging the plant requires a few simple steps.

In the garden, plant thyme near cabbage or tomatoes.

The plants should grow 6 to 12 inches in height.

Space young plants 12 to 24 inches apart, depending upon the specific variety.

This is usually 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost in well-drained soil about 9 inches apart.

Plant cuttings or young thyme plants any time after the ground temperature reaches 70☏.

For a head start, plant the cuttings indoors 6 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost.

Over time, you can propagate from your own cuttings. It’s easier to buy the plants from a garden center or take some cuttings from a friend.

It’s hard to grow thyme from seeds because of slow, uneven germination.

In early spring, you may fertilize with organic matter, like compost, but not much soil amendment is necessary.

Soil needs to drain well so there aren’t “wet feet.” In the garden, plant with other drought-tolerant perennials.

Harvest tyme full#

Thyme thrives in full sun and loves heat. If you are growing in a pot indoors, plant near a sunny window.