Growing Thyme From Seed: A How-To Guide for Beginners

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Although growing thyme from seed isn’t difficult, it requires patience, since this versatile, fragrant herb takes a while to germinate and grow. However, with the right know-how, you can start your own thyme seedlings and subsequently grow them into mature plants. Plus, seed is much less expensive than established bedding plants, so you stand to save a lot of money by starting thyme seeds yourself. This article is going to cover starting seeds indoors and direct-sowing seeds once the soil warms up in spring.

A member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, thyme contains a chemical compound called thymol which contributes to its strong scent and flavor profile. For centuries, herbalists have used thyme to treat everything from coughs and fevers to diarrhea and epilepsy. More recently, thymol and other volatile chemicals in thyme have been used as antioxidant and antibacterial agents as well.

For cooking, you can snip off fresh leaves and stems to add some extra zip to all sorts of dishes, including soups, stews, sauces, and salads. You can also dry thyme by itself or combine it with other herbs like basil and rosemary to flavor herb-infused oils, vinegar, or butter.

By growing thyme from seed yourself, you can choose to start several different varieties, each with their own special scents and uses. Here are just a few of the different types of thyme plants you might choose to grow:

• Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Also known as English thyme or garden thyme, common thyme is a shrubby plant which can grow up to a foot-and-a-half tall. It has rounded, grayish-green leaves and