English Thyme (T. vulgaris) is perennial in Zones 4–9; French Thyme (T. vulgaris) in Zones 4–10; and Lemon Thyme (Thymus x citriodorus ‘Variegata’) in Zones 6–8.
How hardy is French thyme?
Thyme is very hardy and will grow under most conditions. Thyme is a Mediterranean plant and likes warm, dry conditions. Plant outdoors once the soil reaches 60˚F. It does best in full sun, but will tolerate some shade.
What is the difference between thyme and French thyme?
French thyme is a variety of English thyme that has narrower, grey-green leaves and a slightly sweeter flavor. It is often preferred by chefs, and is excellent for seasoning meat, fish, soup, and vegetables. Just remember that its English counterpart is not only more robust, but has better cold tolerance.
Are thyme perennials?
A low-growing hardy perennial, thyme is a fragrant herb with small, fragrant leaves and thin, woody stems. The culinary varieties are evergreen.
How tall does French thyme grow?
French Thyme
| Plant In | Sun/Shade | Mature Height |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. – June | Full sun | 8 – 12 inches |
How long do thyme plants live?
Thyme is a perennial herb that often only lives for 5 or 6 years even with good care. After 3 years thyme plants growth tends to slow down and produce less leaves with a weak aroma and inferior flavour compared to younger thyme plants.
Does thyme grow back after cutting?
Thyme grows back after cutting, and often grows back fuller and stronger. To make sure your plant bounces back, remove only the softest, greenest stems from the plant when harvesting. Never cut past the woody part of the stem. This is the place where new growth occurs.
What is French thyme good for?
Thyme contains chemicals that might help bacterial and fungal infections. It also might help relieve coughing and have antioxidant effects. People commonly use thyme for cough, patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), dementia, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
What is French thyme used for?
Thyme is taken by mouth for bronchitis, whooping cough, sore throat, colic, arthritis, upset stomach, stomach pain (gastritis), diarrhea, bedwetting, a movement disorder in children (dyspraxia), intestinal gas (flatulence), parasitic worm infections, and skin disorders.
How do you grow French thyme?
Thyme (Thymus) is easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Prune away winter-killed stems in spring and then feed plants lightly with a balanced fertilizer. After bloom fades, shear back spent flowers, cutting 1–2″ into the leaves to keep plants compact and to encourage new growth.
Will thyme survive winter?
Herbs like bay, sage and thyme are hardy enough to survive the winter outside, but will not grow. If you want to harvest from them, protect them against the coldest weather. You can move plants into a coldframe, or an unheated greenhouse or conservatory. Make sure to ventilate them on milder days.
Do you cut back thyme in winter?
Cut back thyme after flowering and protect tender species in winter.
What herbs come back year after year?
These are the best perennial herbs that will return every year:
- Sage. Lynne BrotchieGetty Images.
- Thyme. Francois De HeelGetty Images.
- Chives. Neil HolmesGetty Images.
- Sorrel. Carl PendleGetty Images.
- Oregano. Westend61Getty Images.
- Mint. James A.
- Lavender. Lynne BrotchieGetty Images.
- Roman Chamomile.
How do you prune French thyme?
In late fall, after the first frost, select one-third of the oldest and woodiest stems on your thyme plant. Using sharp, clean shears, cut these stems back by half. Repeat the process the next year until your thyme plant has returned to growing younger, more tender stems all over the plant.
Does French thyme flower?
This is the thyme preferred for authentic French cuisine. Soft gray-green foliage is lovely in the garden and small lavender flowers in summer are a favorite of bees and other beneficial pollinators. Foliage is easily dried for long-term storage.
Does thyme spread easily?
Just like all plants, thyme plants spread by growing from one set of leaves to the next. In between the leaves is a stem segment. Some thymes produce sets of leaves very close together while others are spaced further apart. Stem segments grow faster without having to produce tightly knit sets of leaves.
How do you revive a thyme plant after winter?
If you snip off all the infected plant tissue and plant thyme in new soil (use multipurpose compost from the garden center as it does not host fungal disease) then the thyme plant can recover in a few weeks as long as it is planted in full sun and watered only once per week at the most.
Should you let thyme flower?
Thyme’s tiny flowers are pretty and white. Though you can pinch the flowers off to allow the plant to produce more leaves, the flavor of thyme really isn’t compromised by letting the plant bloom.
How do you overwinter thyme?
Protect Perennial Herbs
Perennial herbs, such as chives, lavender, oregano, thyme, overwinter well in the ground. In most areas simply wait until a few hard freezes and then cut back tall herbs to within 4 to 6 inches of the ground.
Is French thyme edible?
The French thyme is fabulous on poultry, grilled veggies and fish. It is still green in winter down here in South Carolina and can be used all year long.
Does thyme raise blood pressure?
Thyme is a flavorful herb packed with numerous healthy compounds. Rosmarinic acid is one such compound. Research has linked it to many benefits, such as reduced inflammation and blood sugar levels, as well as increased blood flow. It may also help reduce blood pressure ( 25 , 26 ).
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