Thyme is a plant widely grown in gardens. It does not need a lot of water to grow, and it also produces very pretty flowers in the spring. And that's not to mention the sweet aroma that its leaves emit. In fact, these are widely used to flavor different recipes, as well as to improve health.
It grows at a relatively fast rate, but since it is a small plant in itself and easy to multiply, when it is put on sale it is usually already an adult, or almost. Now this is interesting because If you want to have an aromatic garden in a short period of time, it will be easy with thyme.
Thyme characteristics
Thyme is a bush or subshrub native to the Mediterranean region. It grows between 15 and 40 centimeters in height, and develops straight and highly branched stems. Very small leaves sprout from them, oval in shape, green and with tomentum (very short hairs) on the underside.
The scientific name is Thymus vulgaris. This means that it belongs to the genus Thymus, and that is very common (vulgaris is vulgar or common in Latin).
What is the thyme flower like?
Thyme flowers are pink, measuring about one centimeter. They are grouped in inflorescences called corymbs, which sprout at the top of the stems. The Thymus vulgaris it blooms in spring, therefore, it will be in that season when we can enjoy its flowers.
What is?
It is a plant that has multiple uses. For example, in a garden with little irrigation it will be very good in a rockery, or with other aromatics such as lavender, mint, peppermint or rosemary. What's more, as it does not grow much it is perfect for growing in a potEither placed on a table, or on the side of an outside staircase.
But the best known use is culinary. It is used to enhance the flavor of some foods, especially all kinds of meats, but they are not the only ones: stews, omelets, soups or scrambled eggs will also taste better if they are cooked with some thyme stalks. Its flavor is intense, but pleasant.
Thyme: properties and contraindications
One thing that we can overlook when we talk about this plant is that it is also useful as a medicinal. For example, thyme tincture can be used to treat acne, and infusion to relieve symptoms of respiratory diseases such as laryngitis or bronchitis. As if this is not enough, it prevents diarrhea and is anti-inflammatory.
Now, it also has its contraindications: It should not be consumed if you are pregnant, or if you have heart failure. In addition, you should not exceed 20 grams per plant, otherwise we could have nausea and vomiting.
Thyme care
How do you take care of the Thymus vulgaris? For this plant to enjoy good health it is important that a series of cares are provided that we are going to see now:
Location
This is a plant that needs to be in a sunny place. Therefore, it will be very good outside, either in a garden or as part of the natural decoration of the balcony, patio or terrace.
Its roots do not take up much space, and they are harmless. What's more, it will grow just as well in a pot as it does in the ground.
Earth
Thyme grows in neutral and basic soils with good drainage. Therefore, it is not advisable to plant in acid soils, with a pH lower than 7, since it would have problems due to the lack of some minerals, such as phosphorus, molybdenum and especially calcium. What's more, if we want to raise the pH, what we can do is add ground limestone to everything and mix it, but we will have to repeat it several times a year until it rises.
For this reason, if it is to be kept in the garden, it will be necessary to plant it in soils that, in addition to having a pH of 7 or higher, absorb water quickly and filter it. On the other hand, if we are going to grow it in a pot, we will fill it with universal substrate (for sale here).
Irrigation
Al Thymus vulgaris you don't have to water it too much. It's more, with two or three weekly irrigations in summer and one weekly the rest of the year you can have your water needs covered. Of course, to be sure, the ideal is to check the soil from time to time, for example by inserting a stick to the bottom and see if a lot of soil has adhered to it or if, on the contrary, it comes out practically clean.
In the first case, we would not water since the humidity would still be high, but in the second, we would, since the land would be dry.
Subscriber
If you take into account that it is an aromatic plant, it is best to pay it using products suitable for organic farming, such as guano, humus, algae extract, or homemade fertilizers such as eggshells or compost.
The season of subscriber goes from spring to summer, although if the area in which we live there is no frost or it is late, we could pay until autumn.
Multiplication
The thyme plant multiplies by seeds in spring. For this they are sown in pots with universal substrate, and placed in a sunny place.
Another way to get new specimens is by multiplying it with cuttings, also in spring. The stems that we see are good are cut, the base is impregnated with rooting hormones (for sale here), and are planted in pots with vermiculite previously watered, in the sun.
Transplant
If it is in a pot, it should be planted in a larger one when we see that the roots come out of the holesIt will be when it has rooted well, occupying the entire container. This will be done in spring.
And if it is going to be planted in the garden, you have to wait for the winter to end, but it can also be done during the summer, being very careful not to manipulate its roots.
Rusticity
Thyme resists frost down to -7ºC, as well as temperatures of 35-38ºC if you have a little water at your disposal.
What did you think of the Thymus vulgaris?