Common Thyme

Common Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Plant out 4 weeks before your last spring frost. Space plants 8 in (20 cm) apart.

Photo: Tangopaso, Public domain · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Transplant (Spring)

From a plantRecommended from a plant
  1. Plant out4 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Optimal Indoor Start

From seedRecommended from seed
  1. Start indoors9 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week before your last spring frost
  3. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  4. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Optimal Transplant

From seed
  1. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Optimal Direct Sow (Fall)

From seed
  1. Sow outdoorsabout 16 weeks before your first fall frost
  2. First harvestspring, summer, fall, once established

Growing common thyme

Spacing in the row
8 in (20 cm)
Between rows
18 in (46 cm)
Planting depth
1/8 inch
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, sandy loam
Germination
7-21 days at 65-70°F
Harvest season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Years to first crop
1
Mature height
6-12 inches
Hardy to
USDA zone 5
Life cycle
Perennial

Surface sow or lightly cover seeds. Requires light for germination.

Watering. Keep consistently moist until established, then water sparingly. Drought tolerant.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Feeding

Seedlings
Light liquid feed once true leaves emerge.
Growing
Minimal; compost tea or balanced organic fertilizer once annually in spring.
Flowering and fruiting
Not specifically fertilized for bloom; general growth feeding suffices.
How often
Once a year, in early spring.
Note
Over-fertilization can reduce flavor and winter hardiness.

Your common thyme, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add common thyme to your planting calendar →

Help test itHelp test it on Android