Eating Garden

How to Grow Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

A small woody evergreen herb that thrives in sun and dry, sharply drained soil.

At a glance

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Sunlight

    Full sun

    6 hours of sun a day

  • Water

    Not thirsty

  • Growing in a pot

    Suitable for pots

More about this plant

Start thyme from a plant, division or cutting, give it full sun and avoid wet soil. Clip the tips for cooking and trim leggy stems to keep the plant compact.

  • Comes back each year.
  • Can grow in raised beds, indoors, the open ground.
  • Fine in a small space.

Optional local dates

Planting dates where you live

The growing guide above works anywhere. This section adds local frost dates when we have them.

Optional local dates

Get planting dates for where you live

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Helpful gardening guides

When to plant

Match these relative steps to your local seasons. Where frost applies, use the last freezing night in spring and the first in fall. In frost-free climates, follow trusted local seasonal guidance.

  • Plant out 0 to 3 weeks after your last spring frostSet out a rooted plant after hard frost risk has passed and the soil can drain freely.

What you need

  • How to start itFrom a young plantYou can start it indoors first.

Step by step

  1. Start with a plant or cuttingThyme seed sprouts unevenly. A rooted plant, division or cutting is easier for a first garden.
  2. Give it full sunChoose a place with at least six hours of direct light.
  3. Use fast-draining soilPlant in sandy, rocky or light soil, a raised bed or a pot with a drainage hole.
  4. Water while it settlesKeep a new plant from drying completely, then allow the soil to dry between drinks.
  5. Trim leggy stemsLight clipping keeps the woody herb low, leafy and easy to harvest.
  6. Cut before floweringFor the strongest aroma, harvest a larger batch just before the first flowers open.

Common mistakes

  • Keeping the soil wetThyme handles drought far better than wet roots. Improve drainage or move it to a pot.
  • Expecting even seed germinationSeed can be slow and uneven. A rooted cutting or division is easier.
  • Feeding for fast growthRich soil makes loose, weak stems. Thyme stays compact in lean, drained ground.

Water

Not thirsty

Water a new plant while roots establish, then let the soil dry somewhat between waterings. Never leave the crown in wet soil.

  • Too dry
  • About right
  • Too wet
  • If it goes dryPuts up with dry groundTender tips dry and the small leaves become brittle.
  • If it stays wetRots quickly in wet groundStems blacken or collapse and roots rot in wet soil.

Looking after it

  • FeedingRarely needs feedingThyme needs little feeding. Too much fertility makes soft, weak growth with less compact flavor.
  • PruningNeeds pruningClip sprigs for cooking and trim leggy stems to keep the plant low and dense.
  • MulchUse gravel or leave the crown open rather than holding wet mulch against the stems.

Harvest

You will know it is ready when: Harvest once several healthy leafy stems are long enough to cut without stripping the small plant.

Snip green stems as needed. For the strongest aroma, make a larger cut just before flowering.

  • Keeping itUse fresh sprigs soon, or dry the leaves and store them in a sealed container away from light and heat.

Is this right for you?

Sunny conditions with dry air and excellent drainage. Common thyme is listed for zones 5a through 9b, though cultivar and winter wetness change survival.

  • LightFull sunAbout 6 hours of direct sun a day.
  • ShadeNeeds full light
  • SeasonA warm season cropUsually grown in spring or summer.
  • FrostSurvives a hard freeze
  • HeatLoves heat
  • Hardiness zonesZones 5a to 9bZones describe winter cold only. They do not say when to plant.

Soil

  • Soil pH6.0 to 8.0A cheap test kit from a garden centre will tell you yours.
  • Soil it likesSandy, Loam, Silt, Chalky
  • DrainageNeeds fast drainage
  • RichnessHappy in poor ground

Use dry, sandy, rocky or light soil with excellent drainage. Rich wet soil is a poor fit.

A soil test can show whether lime is needed. Avoid heavy compost and nitrogen feeding.

The year at a glance

Measured from your last spring frost, because seasons differ from garden to garden. In frost-free climates, use trusted local seasonal guidance alongside these relative steps.

  1. Plant out

    0 to 3 weeks after your last spring frost

Questions people ask

Can thyme survive winter?

Common thyme is listed for zones 5a through 9b, but cultivar, shelter and winter wetness all matter.

Can thyme grow in a pot?

Yes. Use a draining pot and light mix, and do not leave it sitting in water.

Why is my thyme dying in the center?

Wet soil and old woody growth are common causes. Improve drainage and trim leggy stems.

When should I harvest thyme?

Clip small sprigs as needed. For a larger, fragrant harvest, cut just before flowering.

Also filed under: Herbs

Where this came from

Advice varies with your climate and variety. Check the sources behind each section.

Sources & review dates
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