How fast will creeping thyme grow from seed?
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. Start thyme indoors 8 weeks before last frost by seeding clusters of 10-15 seeds together on top of the soil. Keep moist, but not wet. Transplant outdoors when seedlings are 3 high, spaced at least 6 apart. Thyme does not mind some crowding.Thyme seeds do not require any treatment (eg soaking, stratification) before sowing. Thyme seeds grow best when they are raised in trays or other containers and transplanted to the garden once established.Creeping Thyme can be planted in spring or fall, with timing chosen to avoid extreme heat and to give young plants time to establish. Spring: Plant after the danger of hard frost has passed and soil is workable. Fall: Plant at least 6–8 weeks before your average first frost to allow roots to establish.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. Applying mulch in late fall can help protect the roots during freezing temperatures.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.
Will creeping thyme choke out other plants?
LIMITATIONS: Creeping thyme offers some moderate weed suppression. But it’s growth is rather loose and weed seedlings may still make their way through it. Sometimes the center of the plant can get quite woody and empty in appearance. It tends to die out in spots where it gets shaded out by other plants. 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 every year?
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. How long does it take for creeping thyme to spread? 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.It’s easy to grow creeping thyme herb from seed. Start by sowing the seeds indoors about 8 weeks before the last spring frost. 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.
Will creeping thyme choke out weeds?
As its name implies, creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) will creep along your landscape and prevent weeds from popping up. Creeping thyme is evergreen in mild winters and blooms profusely from early to mid-summer, says Keri Wilson horticulturist for Garden Media Group. Popular Creeping Thyme Varieties Pink Chintz Thyme: Featuring a profusion of soft pink blooms and a spreading habit, perfect for edging pathways. Coccineus Red Creeping Thyme Lawn: Known for its bright red crimson flowers and glossy green foliage, this variety adds a pop of color to rock gardens.Wooly Thyme 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 also mingles well with hardy creeping sedums, such as Spanish stonecrop (Sedum hispanicum)–shown below with both plants in bloom, plus lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina). Bushy lemon thymes (Thymus citriodorus) also perform rather well here.Thymus serpyllum ‘Pink Chintz’ is a charming, fast-spreading creeping thyme with fuzzy, gray-green foliage and a soft carpet of salmon-pink blooms in summer. Low-growing and aromatic, it’s perfect between pavers or in rock gardens. Loved by pollinators and easy to grow, it adds fragrance, texture, and color.
Can you plant thyme seeds in the fall?
Fall is actually a great time to plant an herb garden. Hardier herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme can be started this time of year and will grow very well in areas with mild winters. As long as they’ve had 6 to 8 weeks to get established in your garden, these herbs can even generally hang on for a couple of frosts. Fall is actually a great time to plant an herb garden. Hardier herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme can be started this time of year and will grow very well in areas with mild winters.
Which creeping thyme spreads fastest?
Creeping Pink thyme, with almost an inch of stem between its sets of leaves, grows much more quickly than say a Pink Chintz Thyme or a Woolly Thyme whose leaves are very close together. The increased stem segment also provides a greater rooting zone for the thyme allowing it to spread faster. 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.
What should you not plant next to thyme?
Chives, cilantro, and basil are not ideal companion plants for thyme because they have different growing requirements and may compete for the same nutrients in the soil. The lifespan of thyme plants averages about 5-6 years.