Creeping thyme grow and care – subshrub of the genus Thymus also known Thymus serpyllum or Breckland thyme, Creeping thyme perennial evergreen plant, used as edible plant for the leaves, leaves fragrant, attract pollinators, can used as ornamental plant and can be used as groundcover, can grow in temperate, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 5-10a, and with the right care in hardiness zone 10b.
How to grow Creeping thyme – growing conditions and care information:
Well-drained soil, better weed free
How to care: Usually the plants not require a lot but, to pull the weeds, the plants are not good in competition and better to reduce and better to bending big stem on the soil and cover in this way the plant will grow new roots
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction – propagating by cutting
Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction? No, but easier to grow
Difficulties or problems when growing: Sensitive to moist
Planting season: Spring to summer in hardiness zone 5-9, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 10a, autumn to spring in hardiness zone 10b
How to plant: Dig hole bigger than the plant put some organic matter and mix it with the soil, if the plants have stems that can be bending and cover the plant with soil
Pests and diseases:
Aphids
Pruning season: Autumn to winter and flowers better to cut blooming stems in the summer
How to prune:
Dead leaves and stems, better to prune the flowers, because the flowers that
Size of the plant: 5-30 cm, 2-12 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water, small amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a planter, flowerpot or containers: Yes
Planting in pots: Require well drained and ventilated soil, better to start with small pot but pots need to be bigger than the roots ball 200%-400%, when the roots over grow the container need to increase the size of the container and when arrive to the desirable size, need to switch the soil every 2 years and when the roots over grow need to prune the roots and the leaves and let it regrow
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring, summer
General information about the flower: Small purple, pink, red or white flowers that grow on stalk in inflorescence
Pollination is done by: Bees, flies
Thinning the bloom: Recommend to thinning better for the growth of the leaves
Plants vegetative reproduction
Vegetative Reproduction Method: Cutting or bending a branch over and covering it with earth
Preferred time for vegetative reproduction: Spring / Autumn
Time to grow roots in vegetative reproduction: 2-4 weeks
Treatment for vegetative reproduction: Bending the branch sometime recommend to break the branch little bit, moist soil
Edible leaves
Leaves harvesting season: All year and better in spring and autumn
How to harvest the leaves? Better to cut the stems the after the plant established
Information about leaves: Green leaves, the size 5-18 mm, leaves shape is elliptic with a pointed top
Uses of Creeping thyme leaves: Herbs, eaten raw, spices, spreads
How to grow Creeping thyme from seeds
Sowing requirement: Better to sow in 20-26C (68-79F) and possible indoor
Saving seeds and care until sowing: Cool and dry location
Sowing season: Spring after the last frost to summer in hardiness zone 5-9, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 10a, autumn to spring in hardiness zone 10b
Planting spacing: 4*5 cm, (1.4*2 inches) when transplant it to bigger pots in the 10 leaves
Depth of Sowing: 2-3mm
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil
Watering requires for Seeds: Small amount of water / Average amount of water (do not overwater)
Germination time: 2-8 weeks
Condition of seedling: Lightly moist soil with medium humidity
