Thyme: The Mediterranean medicinal and culinary herb

Thyme has delighted people for thousands of years. We give advice on growing the sunbather in your own garden.

The real thyme (Thymus vulgaris) has 213 other relatives that are also members of the genus Thyme (thymus) are. They belong to the mint family (Lamiaceae), including, for example, the celebrities sage and lavender are to be counted from our home garden. thymus is derived from the Greek "thymos", which means strength and courage. So it seems plausible that even in ancient times legionnaires enjoyed a thyme bath before their battles. Whether the herb was really able to acquire additional powers that helped to win in hard-fought battles is certainly debatable. Nevertheless, the real thyme certainly has the title of medicinal plant of the year 2006! Its ingredients help it to be helpful for us humans with some ailments. Thus, the herb, which originally comes from the Mediterranean region of Western Europe, should not just find its legitimate way into our gardens because of its seasoning abilities. In order for it to thrive there, however, there are a number of things to consider when cultivating thyme.

Cultivation of real thyme

location

Should the dainty one Thyme planted in a bed the location must be chosen with great care - as far as the subsoil is concerned, it is very choosy and unwilling to compromise. The Mediterranean mint family values ​​dry and well-drained soil, which is also very stony and calcareous. However, calcareous soils quickly have a high pH value, which can lead to iron deficiency symptoms in thyme. These can be recognized by the yellowing of the younger leaves, with the leaf veins remaining conspicuously green.

It will not grow much, if at all, on heavy, loamy soil that tends to become waterlogged quickly. Its southern roots are also reflected in its need for warmth: the thyme likes a spot in full sun, so even the hottest summer heat doesn't bother it. A sheltered spot near a house wall, for example, is ideal for the cold season.

propagation

True thyme can be grown by sowing or over cuttings be propagated. When propagating cuttings, young shoots are taken in the spring and placed in a special organic seed compost used. It is important to create an atmosphere with high humidity. The drier the air, the more water the cutting would have to absorb. But he can't do that at the beginning due to the missing roots. However, the high humidity should only be maintained until sufficient roots have formed. It favors the formation of fungal pathogens on the cuttings.

If the thyme is to be propagated by sowing, it is advisable to do this in a sheltered place in the house. Thyme seeds are very fine and can easily be carried by the wind in all directions. In addition, thyme is one of the light germinators, so the seed should never be covered with a protective substrate layer. Sowing the seedlings from mid-May with a head start in growth as young plants is also a good idea if you sow them indoors in a bright spot from March. At a temperature of 15°C, thyme seeds germinate within about 15 days.
You can find more about this topic here: Thyme: growing, harvesting and storing.

Water and fertilize

True thyme is definitely a lazy plant. Even drought over a somewhat longer period of time is not life-threatening for it, but growth will then stop temporarily. The fertilization should be very restrained. In general, little applies, and even less for nitrogen. If fertilized too extensively, thyme will quickly shoot through. Above all, care should be taken to stop fertilizing after August. Otherwise, the young tissue will not have enough time to mature and develop resistance to frost. One is well suited Organic soil activator, which promotes healthy soil life and nutrient uptake without releasing too much nitrogen.

Since the heat-tolerant herb is not entirely frost-hardy anyway, the evergreen subshrub should be covered in winter. A culture in a pot is of course also possible. Due to the preference for permeable soils, however, a substrate with a high proportion of sand (about 30%) should be chosen for thyme.

care

Since thyme is a semi-shrub, it is advisable to cut the 10 to 40 cm small plant back to the woody part in early spring before it sprout. If the plant is too old and lignified, this is usually at the expense of the aroma intensity. Then it is better to buy a new plant – maybe even by propagating cuttings from the old one. But be careful: thyme is self-intolerant, which is why thyme should not be planted again in the same spot when growing in a bed. Four to five years dormancy is recommended before planting a lamiaceae again at this location.
More to Care of thyme see this article.

Thyme: Varieties and Species

The real thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a species in the genus Thyme (thymus). A total of 214 species belong to this group. All of these small subshrubs prefer dry, well-drained soil. In addition to the real thyme, there are other species that are also known as medicinal plants:

• Headed Thyme (Thymus capitata): Reaches a height of up to 50 cm. The clusters of leaves and flowers at the end of the shoots are striking.
• Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum): ground-covering growth and not exceeding 10 cm in height. Popular as an ornamental plant in rock gardens.
• lemon thyme (Thymus x citiriodorus): Has a more pronounced winter hardiness. High ornamental value due to green-yellow leaf combinations. Characteristic lemon scent.
• Corsican thyme (Thymus herba barona): Impresses with its after Caraway seed tasting leaves.

The variety is also enriched by exotic crossings. For example, ginger thyme, which has a characteristic ginger-Flavour trumps available. The rose scented thyme, on the other hand, releases a gentle rose scent.

The most popular type – true thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – is also represented on the market with different varieties. These usually differ in the content of the individual components of the thyme oil in the plant or have special growth characteristics.
We have put together a detailed overview of varieties for you here: Thyme: Varieties and Species.

• Varico 3: This variety boasts a high content of the disinfecting thymol in the thyme oil it contains.
• compactus: Variety that is particularly well suited for cultivation in pots due to its even more compact growth.
• German winter: Large-leaved and intense in aroma.
• argent: Also called silver thyme; stands out due to its green and white patterned leaves.

Harvesting and storing thyme

Young shoots can be harvested continuously from the thyme. It should primarily be harvested before flowering begins (June to October). The flowering costs the herb strength and always ends in a loss of aroma. When harvested in the morning, the concentration of aromatic oils is highest. As the plant's water requirements increase and the daily temperature rises, the ingredients increasingly dilute and evaporate.

The shelf life of thyme can be extended in a number of ways. The most well-known method is drying. To do this, 10 to 15 cm long shoots are cut off, bundled and hung upside down. A dry but also dark room should be chosen for drying. It makes sense to protect the thyme bouquets from light during the drying process, as this allows a higher content of the essential oils to be maintained. It is also possible to pluck the small thyme leaves and freeze them after washing them. Another preservation method is pickling the shoots in oil or vinegar. It does not matter whether already dried or fresh shoots are used.

Thyme: ingredients and uses

The real thyme contains a variety of different ingredients. Depending on the variety and the influence of external factors, their composition can vary. The most famous component of thyme essential oil is probably thymol. Thymol is also included in many mouthwashes as a disinfecting substance. In addition to the avoidable antibacterial and antiviral effect, thyme oil is best known for its pronounced ability to dissolve mucus. Taken as a tea or inhaled, it has been proven to be effective for airway inflammation, whooping cough or even bronchitis. However, if the oil is used in too high a concentration, it can lead to unpleasant and unwanted irritation of the mucous membranes.

In addition to the pronounced healing effect, the real thyme is popular for its Mediterranean flavor. The aroma of thyme goes well with any meat dishes and seafood, something as herb for grilling. But also Mediterranean vegetables and potato dishes can be rounded off with the medicinal and aromatic herb. It also stimulates digestion after a hearty meal - a real win.

You can find more on this topic in our article: Thyme: Use as a medicinal and spice herb.