A favorite herb of bumble-bees, thyme is also grown in the home garden as a seasoning, aromatic and healing herb. Here's how to grow your own thyme, plus suggestions on how to use it.

Growing and Using Thyme

by Adrianne Lake

Thyme is a perennial herb that has graced Greece with its tiny purple flowers and green-silver colour for centuries. It was originally used as a gift to the gods, as its name comes from a greek word that means "to sacrifice". Due to its antiseptic properties, the oil in thyme was used in WW1 to treat soldier's injuries. Great in stews and as a accent for meat, thyme has a respected place in the kitchen. It goes well with rosemary, and is excellent in butters and bread. Traditionally, thyme is used in clam chowder. Aromatherapists use thyme for its calming effect and the ability of thyme to heal many different ailments is legendary.

Cultivation Thyme has a woody, hardy root and sturdy stems. It can grow five to ten inches high. Its leaves are paired on the stem, and the small thyme blossoms range from purple to white. Thyme can be grown from root divisions or cuttings from early summer, or planted from seed. Plant six inch cuttings in good light at springtime. Thyme likes sandy, light, well-drained soil. If starting from seed, plant the seeds two inches apart in soil 1/4 inch deep. Compost is very beneficial in the spring. Leaves can be picked as necessary, as the leaves of thyme are the parts most used for cooking and healing purposes. To harvest more of the plant, cut the herb three inches above the ground in summer right before flowering, and dry the plant accordingly. Medicinal Uses of Thyme Thymol is the oil extracted from thyme, and was traditionally used to effectivly kill germs. Thyme tea is great for nervous and circulatory problems, as well as fighting off colds. This herb is good for asthma and coughs as it is antspasmodic, and promotes the flow of mucus. Herbed Olives 4 cups olives 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tbsp fresh chopped thyme 3 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 tbsp lemon juice Combine the lemon juice and olive oil in a large bowl. Add the thyme, rosemary and garlic. Mix in the olives. Refrigerate for several days before serving.

Purchase Thyme Seeds from Nature Hills Nursery: - $ 1.89 Thyme Common or 'Thymus vulgaris', is a herb for cooks who don't know which herb to use. Thyme will go with almost anything. Thyme is a very elegant, small garden shrub. Plant a hedge of thyme around your herb or vegetable garden. The small plant with 1/4 inch leaves and delicate, edible flowers, appearing in early summer, is also a lovely 12 inch landscape plant. Plant Thyme in warm, light, loose, and well drained soil. Thyme should be planted in the spring, 2 weeks after the last average frost date.