Crops › Thyme
How to grow Thyme
in the US
Sow March to May, plant out June, harvest May to September. About 90 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Thyme, it's a real workhorse in the herb patch, isn't it? Dead easy to grow, proper hardy, and just smells lovely when you brush past it. You'll find it a cracking addition to your backyard, no bother at all.
Sowing
Sowing thyme is pretty straightforward. You'll want to sow the tiny seeds very shallow, just barely covered with a sprinkle of soil, maybe a quarter inch deep. Keep the compost moist and warm, around 60-70°F (15-21°C). For folks in zones 5-7, April and May are good times, but always check your local last frost dates. Zones 8 and up can get started earlier, January or February even, and colder zones like 3 and 4 might wait until May or June. Some varieties prefer starting indoors, others can go straight out; check your seed packet. Like I say, it's an easy one.
Growing on
Once your seedlings are big enough to handle, with a couple of true leaves, you can prick them out into individual pots. Give them a bit of space, you know. Before planting them out in the garden, always harden them off for a week or two, gradually getting them used to the outdoors. Space them about 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart in a sunny spot with good drainage. Thyme loves a bit of sun. It's great in containers too, if you're short on space or want it near the kitchen door.
Looking after it
Thyme doesn't ask for much, to be honest. Once established, it's quite drought-tolerant, so don't overwater it; let the soil dry out between waterings. No real need for heavy feeding either, just good soil. A light trim after flowering keeps it bushy and productive. It'll just keep going for you, proper hardy.
What goes wrong
Now, even easy plants can get a bit of bother. Slugs can be a pest when plants are small, so keep an eye out for them, especially in damp weather. Aphids might turn up too, but a good spray of water usually sorts them out. Companion planting with marigolds or nasturtium can help deter some pests, like I always say, every little helps.
Harvest
You can start harvesting thyme about 90 days after sowing, or when the plant is a good size. Just snip off sprigs as you need them, taking about a third of the plant at a time; it'll grow back. For a glut, you can dry it in a cool, dry place or freeze sprigs. It keeps its flavor really well, you know what I mean.
I always grow a bit of Thyme near the path on my plot. It means every time I walk past, I brush it and get that lovely smell, proper cheering.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| English (Common) This is your classic English (Common) thyme, a really reliable performer that won't let you down. It's a cracking choice for beginners looking for good, strong flavor in their cooking. | No club votes yet |
| German Winter German Winter thyme is proper cold hardy and can handle a bit of frost, making it ideal for longer seasons. If you're in a cooler zone or just want something tough, this is the one for you. | No club votes yet |
| French The French variety is another solid choice, very reliable and gives good results every time. It's a great all-rounder for cooking and looks neat in the herb garden. | No club votes yet |
| Lemon Thyme Lemon Thyme brings a lovely citrusy twist to your dishes, a bit different from the usual. It's a reliable grower outdoors and really adds something special to chicken or fish. | No club votes yet |
| Caraway Thyme Caraway Thyme has a distinctive caraway-like aroma, perfect for adding an unusual note to your cooking. It's a reliable performer indoors, giving you that unique flavor. | No club votes yet |
| Creeping Thyme Creeping Thyme spreads out nicely, making it great for ground cover or between paving stones. It's a reliable outdoor variety that also smells lovely when you walk on it. | No club votes yet |
| Orange Balsam Orange Balsam thyme offers a warming, slightly citrusy, balsam scent that's truly unique. It's a reliable choice for growing indoors where you can enjoy its lovely aroma. | No club votes yet |
| Silver Posie Silver Posie is a cracking variety with lovely variegated leaves, making it a real looker in the herb patch. It's a reliable outdoor performer that adds visual interest as well as flavor. | No club votes yet |
| Variegated Lemon This Variegated Lemon thyme gives you that great lemon scent with pretty variegated leaves for extra interest. It's a reliable indoor grower, perfect for a sunny windowsill. | No club votes yet |
| Doone Valley Doone Valley thyme is a reliable outdoor performer, known for its lovely scent and robust growth. It's a good choice for general garden use and provides plenty of sprigs. | No club votes yet |
| Woolly Thyme Woolly Thyme has soft, fuzzy leaves, making it a bit different to the touch and lovely for sensory gardens. It's a reliable performer indoors, creating a unique texture. | No club votes yet |
| Elfin Elfin thyme is a tiny, compact variety that's perfect for rockeries or growing between stepping stones. It's a reliable outdoor grower for those really small spaces. | No club votes yet |
| Summer Thyme Summer Thyme is a classic for warm weather, giving you plenty of aromatic leaves right through the season. It's a reliable indoor grower to get a good head start on your summer harvests. | No club votes yet |
| Highland Cream Highland Cream thyme has lovely cream-edged leaves, making it a very attractive plant for the herb patch. It's a reliable outdoor variety that looks as good as it tastes. | No club votes yet |
| Archer's Gold Archer's Gold thyme has beautiful golden foliage, brightening up any spot in the garden or on a windowsill. It's a reliable indoor performer, giving you both color and scent. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Thyme seeds
Partner retailers. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission. It never costs you more.
Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May to June | July to September |
| Zone 4 | April to June | June to September |
| Zone 5 | April to June | June to September |
| Zone 6 | March to May | May to September |
| Zone 7 | March to May | May to September |
| Zone 8 | February to May | April to September |
| Zone 9 | January to May | March to September |
| Zone 10 | December to May | March to September |
Cook the harvest
A pillowy, olive oil-drenched focaccia dimpled with roasted garlic and blanketed with fresh thyme leaves that crisp and perfume the whole loaf during baking. This straightforward, forgiving bread is deeply satisfying to make and impossible not to eat warm from the pan.
55 min · mediumA quick, elegant pan sauce of white wine, cream, and fresh thyme that comes together in under 15 minutes in the same pan you used to sear the chicken. Rich without being heavy, herbal without being sharp, this is the weeknight dinner sauce you will come back to again and again.
40 min · mediumBurst roasted cherry tomatoes blistered with generous quantities of fresh thyme and garlic until jammy and intensely sweet, spooned over thick slices of toasted sourdough with a smear of ricotta. The thyme perfumes the tomatoes deeply as they roast, creating a rich, herby pan sauce that soaks into the bread. This is one of those recipes where a handful of quality ingredients delivers restaurant-level results.
30 min · easySweet roasted grapes burst and jammy in the oven, their juices mingling with thyme and a little balsamic for a topping that is as unexpected as it is delicious. Spread over ricotta-topped crostini, this makes a stunning appetizer for any gathering.
30 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: marigolds, nasturtium
Questions people ask
When do you sow Thyme in the US?
Sow Thyme from March to May in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out June, after the last frost.
How long does Thyme take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 90 days, with the harvest May to September.
Which Thyme varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for English (Common), German Winter, French, Lemon Thyme and more.
Track your Thyme from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.