Large Thyme is an attractive plant with little red-purple flowers and light green leaves. This perennial is used as groundcover or carpet in gardens. It also attracts bees and other usefull insects. It can be used like thyme in the kitchen sparsly in stews, pastadishes, marinades, stuffing for turkey, in soups, sauces, with game and ofcourse as herbal tea against coughing. Height: 30 cm
Indoor sowing: march - april
Outdoor sowing: may - june
Sowing depth: ½ cm
Germination: 10-15 days
Germination temp.: 18-20°C
Planting distance: 23-28 cm
Plant position: sunny
Harvest period: june (see text below)
Sow indoors from march till april, cover the seeds slightly with fine soil. The seeds need warmth and much light to germinate. Plant outside as soon as there is no more change on frosts.
Sow directly outdoors from the middle of may after the last frosts. When sowing in rows keep 45 cm space between the rows. Cover the seeds slightly with fine soil. When the seedlings are 5-7 cm tall thin out to 23-28 cm between individual plants. Thyme needs to be planted on sandy, calcareous soil with good drainage.
Harvest thyme in the first year, only 1 time. Harvest twice in a year in the following years. Start in june and harvest the 2nd time not later than the end of august.
Cut the plant hard back after flowering to prevent the plant from growing wild. When You use this plant as groundcover, don't cut it back, but leave it to grow on.
