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| Thymus | Common name; Thyme |
This culinary herb grows to around 200-250mm (8"-10") high and clusters of flowers appear from the leaf axils in June.
They can be grown in containers or set 300mm (12") apart in sunny borders.
Generally it is best to replace the plants every three to four years, when they become thin and straggly.
Week 13; Sow seeds in pots/trays of seed compost and germinate in a coldframe.
Germination should take about a week.
Week 15; Prick off the seedlings, when large enough to handle, into 75mm (3") pots of potting compost.
circa Week 18; replenishing plants that have become straggly can be done in a number of ways, e.g. heel and tip cuttings, layering or division.
Heel cuttings; tear off a 50-75mm (2"-3") non-flowering lateral shoots from the main plant with a 'heel' of older wood.
Remove its lower leaves and insert it into a well-drained loam-based compost.
Put in a propagator, or pull a plastic bag loosely over the cutting to retain moisture, seal it and place on a warm windowsill (not in full sun).
Roots should form in six weeks.
Tip cuttings; select the tip a non-flowering lateral shoot on the main plant.
Cut the tip off approximately 50-75mm (2"-3") down the stem, make the cut under the nearest leaf node.
Dip the cuttings into a hormone rooting powder and insert them into pots containing a 50-50 mix (by volume) of compost and sharp sand.
Pot the rooted cuttings singly into 75mm (3") pots of potting compost and grow on in a cold frame until planting out time.
Roots should form in six weeks.
Layering; layering involves burying a woody stem, still attached to the parent plant, until it roots.
To do this; remove leaves from the stem in the area to be buried and scrape the underside to create a wound.
Loosen the soil and pin the stem down with wire.
Cover with soil, leaving the growing tip clear of the surface; water well.
alternatively; the cutting can be pinned into a small pot of compost sunk into the underlying soil.
New plants should be ready to detach with a well-developed root system by autumn if layered in spring.
When rooted; sever the cutting from the parent plant and plant in its permanent quarters.
Divide established clumps and replant immediately
Week 22; Plant out seedlings in a sunny border 300mm (12") apart.
Pot up a couple into 150mm pots for use during the winter months.
Pick the shoots at anytime for using fresh.
They are best when newly picked.
They can be dried or deep frozen
Week 48; Small plants can be dug up from the garden and potted up to grow on for winter use.
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