Flowering thyme is available in the early spring and late summer months . Thyme is a widely used culinary and aromatic herb, that is also grown for its ornamental and edible purple flowers.
One of the next things we wanted the answer to was: does thyme have purple flowers?
They are often purple , but can be pink or white depending on the variety. The tiny, purple blooms of Flowering thyme offer a balsamic scent and citrusy flavor with hints of mint. Flowering thyme is available in the early spring and late summer months.
Answer: You should remove the flowers from your thyme plant before they have bloomed if possible , while the blossoms are still just buds. Once an herb plant is allowed to flower, the plant will focus its energy on producing more flowers instead of on making the leaves that you use in cooking (which are the reason most of us grow the herbs).
When is the best time to plant thyme?
Plant thyme from October to April in the low desert of Arizona. Thyme does well when planted in all but the hottest months of the year. When temperatures warm in the spring, give thyme a good pruning to encourage new growth. Harvest thyme often to discourage blooming.
One of the next things we asked ourselves was; when is the best time to pick thyme?
Lets figure it out. however, the best time to pick thyme is in early summer , when the plant is at its most productive, before flowering. Thyme dries well, but the best method for preserving it is to add it to butter, vinegar or oil.
When is thyme ready to harvest?
Harvest your thyme in the late summer just before it starts flowering. While you can cut thyme at any point in the growing season, most of the oils are held in the leaves before flowers start blooming, so that’s when they’re most flavorful.
One thought is that cuttings from the creeping thyme plant should be taken in the early summer. Start seeds when growing creeping thyme indoors or they may be sown in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.
Roots will emerge within about six weeks . Transfer to a small pot, let the root ball form, and then transfer to a large pot or directly to your garden. Harvest thyme just before the plant flowers by cutting off the top five to six inches of growth.
When to harvest Thyme for cooking?
You can start harvesting from your thyme plants once they reach a height of about 6-8 ”. At first, you’ll only want to trim them lightly or use a few stems for cooking. For a larger harvest, the best time to cut thyme is right before the plants start to flower.
How to grow Thyme in the garden?
The plants should grow 6 to 12 inches in height. In the garden, plant thyme near cabbage or tomatoes. If you are growing thyme in containers, plant with rosemary which also likes sunny conditions and has similar watering needs. Water deeply only when the soil is completely dry. Prune the plants back in the spring and summer to contain the growth.
Transfer to a small pot, let the root ball form, and then transfer to a large pot or directly to your garden. The three most common varieties of culinary thyme are: Harvest thyme just before the plant flowers by cutting off the top five to six inches of growth. Leave the tough, woody parts.
How to dry thyme?
Cut the stems for drying fresh thyme, just before a growth node. This will increase bushing and ensure a constant supply of the tasty leaves. Morning is the best time of day for harvesting thyme. After harvesting thyme, wash it and shake off the excess water . You can choose to dry the entire stem or remove the tiny leaves.