![Bee-friendly plants: Flowers, Trees & Co.](https://fryd.app/media/pages/magazin/bienenfreundliche-blumen/e4431f18e2-1687176087/bienenfreundliche-pflanzen-x280.png)
Biodiversity & Wildlife Conservation
Bee-friendly plants: Flowers, Trees & Co.
Like some other Mediterranean herbs, thyme belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The semi-shrub is a popular spice for Provençal dishes and is also known as a medicinal herb. Of course, it tastes particularly good fresh from your own garden. You can find out how to plant, cut and harvest thyme and tips on propagating and overwintering it here.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is part of the labiate family (Lamiaceae). The genus Thymus includes numerous thyme species and varieties, many of which are used in cooking and traditional medicine. You can find an overview of exciting thyme varieties in this article.
As a Mediterranean herb, thyme is a light feeder and thrives well in poor and light soils. Soil that is too rich in nutrients or too much fertilizer makes the thyme plant susceptible to disease and can change the taste of its leaves. In addition, thyme prefers it a little too dry rather than standing there with wet feet. As a medium-rooted plant, it forms shallow taproots with which it can store a lot of water close to the soil surface. On the other hand, it can fetch water from deep down in dry conditions. The semi-shrub grows perennially and is hardy, depending on the variety.
Thyme has a semi-shrubby, bushy growth habit and reaches heights of between 15 and 40 cm/5,9 and 15,7 in. The small, elongated, oval leaves are quite small and delicate, just like the thyme flowers. Thyme flowers from June to September, but this varies depending on the variety, growing region, location and weather conditions. During flowering, thyme attracts numerous pollinators such as bees and bumblebees. As an evergreen shrub, thyme also retains its leaves in winter.
Thyme originates mainly from the Mediterranean region. Here it can be found in dry grasslands, on rocks and on walls. The soil should therefore be nutrient-poor, dry and well-drained. The semi-shrub also likes to grow in the sun. So look for a bright, sheltered and warm spot for it.
Whether in the garden or in a pot on the balcony, as long as the location is right, thyme will grow anywhere. You can buy young plants in spring and plant them after the last frost from mid-May to June. Keep a planting distance of 20 x 20 cm/ 7,9 x 7,9 in or larger, depending on how big you want your bush to be. If your soil is too heavy, make sure you mix in some sand beforehand.
You can also sow the light germinator yourself. To sow the seeds, mix potting compost with sand and moisten it well with a spray bottle. Then add a few seeds to the soil and press them down gently. Keep the substrate evenly moist, but be careful not to wash the seeds away when watering. They are very small and light. Germination can take up to three weeks. Pre-grow the seedlings on the windowsill in March so that they are big enough to plant out in May.
Thyme is very suitable for growing in pots or containers. However, pay attention to the variety, as different types of thyme differ in their growth habit. A good variety for growing in pots, for example, would be true thyme, as it grows quite compactly.
Thyme contains highly fragrant essential oils that keep pests away, making it ideal for mixed cultivation. Its flowers also attract beneficial insects. There are either varieties that grow bushy or varieties that act as ground cover to protect the soil and prevent water evaporation.
Thyme is usually better suited to a herb bed in mid-latitudes as, unlike most vegetable plants, it prefers dry and nutrient-poor soil. You can combine many different herbs in a herb spiral, as you can create different conditions. In a Mediterranean vegetable patch with vegetables with moderate water requirements, thyme can be planted as a companion plant.
Good neighbors | Bad neighbors | |
---|---|---|
Blackberry | Lemon balm | Basil |
Broccoli | Marigold | Dill |
Cabbage | Paprika | Lovage |
Carrots | Raspberry | Marjoram |
Chilli | Rosemary | Mint |
Chives | Sage | Topinambur |
Horseradish | Savory | |
Lavender | Tarragon |
Note: Thyme is said to keep the cabbage white butterfly away from cabbage plants by preventing it from laying eggs. For this reason, thyme goes well next to cabbage. However, you should bear in mind that cabbage is a heavy feeder that likes to grow in nutrient-rich soil and requires more moisture. These are not good conditions for thyme plants.
You can find ideas for planting and designing your herb bed with thyme here in the planting plans:
The semi-shrub is very easy to care for, it doesn't need much water or fertilizer. Only thyme growing in a pot needs a small dose in May or June. Otherwise, you should cut your thyme back regularly and, depending on the variety, possibly put it inside or cover it for the winter.
Annual pruning is important to promote compact growth and plant health while preventing the plant from becoming woody or bald. In spring, roughly between March and April, the evergreen branches should be cut back by around a third so that the plant can sprout vigorously again and prevent senescence. After flowering, cut off the tips of the shoots. Always cut above a leaf node so that it can sprout again more easily. You can then use the cut shoots fresh in the kitchen for cooking, or dry them.
True thyme and broad-leaved thyme, for example, are hardy and need little protection; pine branches are sufficient here. However, not all types of thyme are frost-hardy. Therefore, cover the semi-shrub with fleece or better still overwinter it indoors in a cool, bright place. You can find more tips on how to overwinter thyme properly in this article.
If you need fresh thyme, you can harvest the young shoots as they grow. For dried thyme, cut off shoots about 10 cm/ 3,9 in long before they flower. After flowering, the leaves lose their aroma and are less tasty. The stems are then tied together and hung upside down to dry.
If you want to propagate your thyme, cut off a few longer shoots and place them in water or directly in sandy herb soil. Change the water regularly until roots have formed and then carefully plant the shoots. This type of propagation is called vegetative propagation, which produces genetically identical seedlings to the mother plant. You can find out how to take cuttings below:
Have fun growing your own thyme!
If you have any questions or comments, please write to us at [email protected]. Would you like to receive helpful gardening tips all year round and plan your own beds optimally? Then register here or download the Fryd app for Android or iOS.
Fryd - Your digital bed planner
Image by deluna on Pixabay
Marie is an agronomist. She is particularly interested in the sustainable and organic cultivation of vegetables and other plants. In her own garden, she gained experience and likes to try things out to learn from nature. She is particularly interested in the values and principles of permaculture, in order to contribute not only to the well-being of nature, but also to the well-being of people and future generations.
Learn moreThyme is a herbaceous perennial that grows in one location.
Not every thyme variety is hardy. Frost-resistant varieties include true thyme and broad-leaved thyme. However, most varieties are still partially hardy, but should be protected with fleece or brushwood in extreme temperatures.
When is the best time to plant thyme?
The heat-loving shrub should only be planted outdoors for the first time after the last frosts in May. This will allow it to root well and grow until the fall.
Prune your thyme plant before budding in spring and after flowering in late summer to promote compact growth. Shorten the individual shoots by a maximum of a third.