Lemon Thyme »Hardy or sensitive to frost?

Not in the bed without winter protection

As a hybrid, lemon thyme does not have the robust frost hardiness of the pure species, even if real thyme is one of the parent plants. Maintain If you have the evergreen subshrub in the bed, overwintering is only possible with the help of these precautions:

• Cut the plant back in half before the first frost
• Cover the root disc and shoots with a 30 cm high layer of leaves
• Place fir fronds or sticks on top to hold it in place

A breathable one also offers reliable protection against frost and snow Garden fleece, which is spread over the planting site and weighted down with stones at the edges. There is nothing to worry about if the branches above ground freeze back. As long as the roots in the ground survive the winter, they sprout again in the spring.

Better put away in the herb pot

In pots with a diameter of less than 30 cm, there is a risk of frostbite in the root ball. It therefore makes sense to put lemon thyme as a container plant in winter quarters. The plant is of course out of place on the warm window sill in the kitchen. How to do it right:

• If the temperatures drop towards freezing point in autumn, the shoots shorten by half
• Carry the pot in a bright, frost-free room with temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius
• The lower the temperatures, the darker the winter quarters can be
• Pour lemon thyme little and do not fertilize

Please place larger vessels on a block of wood in front of the protective south wall of the house. A thick winter coat made of fleece, jute or foil protects the root ball from frost damage. Cover the substrate with wood wool, autumn leaves or Sawdust. In sunny, dry winter weather, water the lemon thyme on mild days.