Thyme
Get the drainage right from the start — this is a genus that fails far more often from wet feet than from cold or drought, so err toward a gritty, lean soil or compost rather than a rich, moisture-retentive one.
Care
Needs as much sun as possible for the best flavour and to avoid rot; a Mediterranean herb by origin.
Drought-tolerant once established — a common cause of failure is overwatering, not underwatering.
Free-draining, low-fertility soil; add grit if the ground is heavy or moisture-retentive. Dislikes rich, damp soil.
Trim lightly after flowering to keep a compact, bushy shape and stop the plant becoming woody and bare in the centre; avoid cutting back hard into old bare wood, which won't reliably reshoot.
Don't feed. Thyme comes from dry stony hillsides and a fed plant is soft, sprawling and far less aromatic; on heavy soil a gritty top dressing is worth far more than fertiliser.
Semi-ripe cuttings in early summer, or mound the centre of an old plant with gritty compost and lift the rooted shoots later — thyme layers itself readily where the stems touch soil.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilHarvest sprigs regularly through the growing season — regular picking is itself a form of light pruning that keeps the plant compact. how ›
- JulyTrim lightly after flowering to maintain a neat, bushy shape. how ›
- SeptemberTake cuttings or divide congested plants now if renewal is needed — this genus becomes woody and less productive after three to four years and is usually better replaced than heavily renovated. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilHarvest sprigs regularly through the growing season — regular picking is itself a form of light pruning that keeps the plant compact. how ›
- JulyTrim lightly after flowering to maintain a neat, bushy shape. how ›
- SeptemberTake cuttings or divide congested plants now if renewal is needed — this genus becomes woody and less productive after three to four years and is usually better replaced than heavily renovated. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchHarvest sprigs regularly through the growing season — regular picking is itself a form of light pruning that keeps the plant compact. how ›
- JulyTrim lightly after flowering to maintain a neat, bushy shape. how ›
- SeptemberTake cuttings or divide congested plants now if renewal is needed — this genus becomes woody and less productive after three to four years and is usually better replaced than heavily renovated. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchHarvest sprigs regularly through the growing season — regular picking is itself a form of light pruning that keeps the plant compact. how ›
- JulyTrim lightly after flowering to maintain a neat, bushy shape. how ›
- OctoberTake cuttings or divide congested plants now if renewal is needed — this genus becomes woody and less productive after three to four years and is usually better replaced than heavily renovated. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Blackened base, wilting despite moist soil.
What to do. Almost always overwatering or poor drainage — improve drainage (add grit) and cut back on watering; this is the most common cause of failure with this genus.
How to spot it. Little new growth, mostly bare woody stems after a few years.
What to do. Normal ageing for this genus — light trimming after flowering each year slows this, but an old, very woody plant is usually best replaced from a cutting or new plant rather than hard-pruned, since it won't reshoot reliably from bare wood.
How to spot it. Fuzzy grey growth in humid, crowded conditions.
What to do. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering.
Popular varieties
Questions
Thyme: is it hardy?
H5: Hardy in most of the UK, but can struggle in the coldest inland or upland spots. It survives down to −15 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Does very well in a pot, which also makes it easier to guarantee the sharp drainage this genus needs.
Thyme: when do you prune it?
Trim lightly after flowering to keep a compact, bushy shape and stop the plant becoming woody and bare in the centre; avoid cutting back hard into old bare wood, which won't reliably reshoot. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in July.
Thyme: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in June–July.
When do you feed it?
Don't feed. Thyme comes from dry stony hillsides and a fed plant is soft, sprawling and far less aromatic; on heavy soil a gritty top dressing is worth far more than fertiliser.