Thyme, also known as Thymus Citriodorus or Lemon Thyme, is native to Greenland, temperate Euroasia, and Northeast Africa. This plant has a creeping habit of 6" tall, spreading to 14" wide. It has tiny white flowers in summer and lemon-scented and flavored foliage. Thyme is excellent for mixed containers, landscape beds, and herb gardens. It requires little more than occasional water and a sunny location with well-drained soil to thrive. Leaves make delicious hot and cold teas. For a Common Thyme variety, try Compact. For a Thyme well-suited for ornamental application, try Variegated.
Thyme Selling Tips
Sell Thyme Citriodorus to customers looking for a low-maintenance herb or a traditional Lemon Thyme. This plant has many benefits to offer your customer, from lemon-scented foliage to simple care. The leaves are excellent for making tea or adding to cold beverages. Thyme is drought-tolerant, resistant to deer and rabbits, attractive to pollinators, and flourishes in light, well-drained soil with full sun and only occasional watering.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 12-14 inches apart in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Water occasionally or less in wet weather.
2. Trim foliage when it begins to get leggy.
3. Harvest leaves for culinary use just before flowering for the best flavor. Use foliage fresh or dry it for continued use.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Thyme, use well-drained soil in full sun with a constant liquid feed program on well-rooted plants of 150-200 ppm N and a pH of 6.5-7.5. Plant one rooted liner per 4-inch container and pinch once after transplanting. Thyme doesn't attract pests, but take precautions against root rot.
Flowering
Tiny white flowers bloom in summer.
Pinching
Pinch once after transplanting.
Spacing
Space 4-inch containers as needed to allow airflow and penetration of light between plants. Thyme can grow to a 14" spread. We do not recommend planting rooted plugs in 1801 or other traditional market trays as they tend to get leggy and can develop fungus when they have insufficient space.
Height Control
We do not recommend using chemical growth regulators on herbs or organic plants.
Pests
This plant isn't prone to pests.
Disease
Thyme isn't disease prone but avoid oversaturating the soil. If the plant sits in moist soil at length, you could end up with root rot or botrytis. Botrytis grey rot tends to occur in wet or humid conditions. Take these steps to prevent botrytis: water in the morning and allow the plant to dry out between waterings; provide good airflow in your greenhouse; space plants so the sun can penetrate to the soil level. To best fight root rot in herbs, use an organic or garden-safe fungicide, like Neem Oil.
Planting Thyme Liners
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4-inch container. Use light, well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the pot.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Organic Herbs Thyme Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 4-6 Weeks |
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| Bloom Period | Summer |
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| Color | White |
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| Habit | Creeping |
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| Height | 6 inches |
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| Light | Full Sun, Partial Shade |
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| Minimum Temp | 54 |
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| Perennial Zone | Zones 6-10 |
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| Water Needs | Light |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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