Can I grow red creeping thyme from seed?
Creeping thyme can be direct sown, but I would highly recommend starting it indoors instead. The seeds (and seedlings) are teeny tiny and they and their equally tiny root systems need to be kept moist for weeks as they germinate and as the seedlings to become established. What Does Creeping Thyme Look Like in Winter? In mild climates, Creeping Thyme often remains evergreen, with its foliage staying low and close to the ground. In colder regions, it may turn brown or go dormant, but will regrow from the roots in spring.Keep in mind creeping thyme only lasts 3-5 years and the main part of the plant dies, leaving dead branches that are very unattractive. Any branches that root themselves will continue to live another 3-5 years. So creeping thyme will always end up patchy.Creeping thyme is relatively disease-resistant, but root rot can be a common issue. Root rot can occur when overwatered or planted in poorly drained areas, says Abdi.Does creeping thyme come back on its own? Creeping thyme is a perennial, meaning it will come back on its own every year. How quickly do creeping thyme plants spread? Creeping thyme takes time to establish, but once it does, it will spread quickly.
Where does red creeping thyme grow best?
Location: red creeping thyme thrives in full sun and well-drained areas such as rock gardens, paths, slopes, or gravel beds. Choose a site with at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Soil: prefers sandy or rocky soils with a neutral to alkaline ph (6. Planting in the ground – choose a warm, sunny planting location in light, well-drained soil. If your soil is heavy or stays quite damp, especially in winter, then plant thyme in a container or raised bed instead, where drainage will be better.Herbs with the same growing requirements, such as oregano, lavender and sage, however, are excellent companions to thyme. However, plants that have dissimilar growing requirements are not a good idea to plant together. Don’t grow thyme near plants that require lots of water and consistently moist soil.Thyme, particularly variegated varieties like ‘Doone Valley’, silver thyme and lemon thyme, works nicely in fall plantings, where their fine leaves and low-growing habit works best at the front of your design. Success with herbs planted in fall depends on providing them with good drainage.Creeping thyme can be a great ground cover and pairs well with other herbs like rosemary and sage. Just ensure they share similar growing conditions.Although a variety of herbs (and even flowers, like marigolds and nasturtiums) can often be planted together, certain kinds like parsley, cilantro, tarragon, basil and chives prefer a more moist soil, and should not be planted directly with thyme.
How quickly does red creeping thyme grow?
Creeping thyme takes a while to become established, and the plants usually don’t grow much during their first year. However, established plants can spread quickly and stretch 12 to 18 inches wide by their third year. Thyme grows very slowly from seed and after planting, germination can take up to 28 days. Because of this, it is usually grown from divisions or cuttings. If planting from seed, begin thyme indoors and scatter the seeds on top of the soil and do not cover them or only cover them lightly.Creeping Thyme is a perennial herb which will over-winter well in zones 4-9. Direct sow seeds outdoors in late spring when temperatures are consistently in the high 60’s or above.Thyme is a hardy perennial herb that can be planted in August for a fall harvest and beyond. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Sow thyme seeds on the surface of the soil and lightly cover them, or plant thyme transplants 12 inches apart.To prevent frost or freeze damage during the winter months, cover creeping thyme with several inches of a loose mulch, such as leaf mold. This can help prevent frost heaving of the plant’s shallow root system.
Can I plant creeping thyme in the fall?
Creeping thyme can be planted in early spring or fall, depending on where you live. In areas with mild winter conditions, creeping thyme can be planted in the fall, as long as temperatures remain above freezing. In areas with more severe winters, wait until spring to plant creeping thyme. Sprinkling seed of creeping thyme on the ground is rarely successful, although raising plants from seed in pots or trays under cover is a good way to produce a large quantity of plants.Creeping thyme is an easy plant to maintain, it does not tend to take-over and can easily be confined to a specific area. Its leaves can be used as a culinary herb and the abundant purple flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies. Sow indoors March to early May and outdoors late May, August and September.Thyme has a reputation for being difficult to start from seed, largely because of the tiny size of the seeds and poor germination rates of some varieties. However, in my experience, creeping thyme is much easier to grow from seed than some other woody herbs like rosemary or sage.In colder climates, thyme overwintered in the garden should be cut back in spring to remove dead foliage and stems. It will readily come back from the base.Creeping thyme takes a while to become established, and the plants usually don’t grow much during their first year. However, established plants can spread quickly and stretch 12 to 18 inches wide by their third year.
Does red creeping thyme spread quickly?
A perfect choice for garden borders and walkways, common creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) produces an abundance of pinkish-purple flowers that are highly attractive to bees and butterflies. This ground-hugging plant rarely grows over 3 inches high and can quickly spread over 12 inches wide. Overwintering: In temperate climates, creeping thyme will usually remain evergreen throughout the winter. In regions where winters are cold, plants may lose their foliage, but it will quickly grow back the following spring.Doone Valley Thyme is one of our favorite ground cover thymes but again it is a bit taller at about four inches with flowers. Loveyanus Thyme is amazingly beautiful in large spaces. It has the largest flower of all the thymes and works well planted with other ground covers like Erigeron and Creeping Golden Marjoram.Red Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’) is a moderately fast-spreading groundcover that can establish itself relatively quickly in the right conditions. Given full sun and well-drained soil, Red Creeping Thyme can spread up to 12-18 inches wide within a growing season, creating a dense, mat-like cover.Thyme grows very slowly from seed and after planting, germination can take up to 28 days. Because of this, it is usually grown from divisions or cuttings. If planting from seed, begin thyme indoors and scatter the seeds on top of the soil and do not cover them or only cover them lightly.Creeping thyme is a versatile groundcover that serves multiple purposes in the garden. Its low-growing habit and dense foliage create a mat that effectively suppresses weeds, while its delicate purple flowers add a burst of color and attract pollinators.
Will creeping thyme choke out weeds?
Whether it’s Wooly, Red, or Lemon, thyme (Thymus) is an amazing ground cover for suppressing weeds. It grows densely, like a thick mat, crowding out unwanted weeds as it spreads. It’s beautiful, too! The foliage comes in a variety of textures and colors, plus, it’s fragrant to the touch. Creeping thyme is a perennial, meaning it will come back on its own every year. How quickly do creeping thyme plants spread? Creeping thyme takes time to establish, but once it does, it will spread quickly. This plant can spread between 12-18 inches wide by the third year.Planting. Location: Red Creeping Thyme thrives in full sun and well-drained areas such as rock gardens, paths, slopes, or gravel beds. Choose a site with at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Soil: Prefers sandy or rocky soils with a neutral to alkaline pH (6.Thyme, including red creeping thyme possesses excellent mosquito-repelling properties. The secret is to crush the leaves to release the volatile oils. You can simply place crushed stems around outdoor seating areas or rub the leaves on skin or clothing.Home-grown and bought thyme plants settle in best when planted out in late spring and early summer. They can also be planted at other times, but avoid extremes of hot or cold weather.
Can I just scatter creeping thyme seeds?
Growing Creeping Thyme From Seed Scatter over a seed-starting mix, lightly pressing into the surface as the seeds need light to germinate. Keep the mix consistently moist and provide plenty of light. Germination may take 2-3 weeks, so be patient. Plant 2-3 seeds deep per cell or about 5-6 seeds per square inch as a light seeding, eventually thinning out the strongest starts once true leaves emerge. Like many perennial herbs, thyme is known to be fairly delicate as a seedling, germinating anywhere from 14-28 days.Most thyme plants are perennial in moderate climates. While some thyme species are upright and shrub-like, creeping types are low-growing with a vine-like habit and can be a grass alternative that doesn’t require mowing (it will also choke out weeds).Grow thyme in well-drained soil in full sun. Some varieties of thyme work well planted in gravel gardens, cracks in paving or as an alternative to a lawn. Others do best in pots, which you can bring indoors in autumn. Cut back thyme after flowering and protect tender species in winter.The lifespan of thyme plants averages about 5-6 years. If you notice the plants are beginning to deteriorate, prune the existing plants back hard to rejuvenate them. Monitor for pests and diseases.