best time to plant thyme seeds Creeping Thyme

best time to plant thyme seeds Creeping ThymeCreeping Thyme can handle being walked upon and is primarily grown as a low maintenance ground cover, filling in spaces quickly. A sea of lavender pink flowers arrives mid summer completely covering the plant, attracting bees and butterflies. Useful for borders, rock gardens, and stone path plantings. Grows to 6. 100 seeds PLANTING Thymus serpyllum Perennial, zones 5 8 Germination: 10 21 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 65 70F

Creeping Thyme can handle being walked upon and is primarily grown as a low-maintenance ground cover, filling in spaces quickly.  A sea of lavender-pink flowers arrives mid-summer completely covering the plant, attracting bees and butterflies. Useful for borders, rock gardens, and stone path plantings. Grows to 6”.        

100 seeds  

PLANTING

Thymus serpyllum

Perennial, zones 5-8

Germination:  10-21 days

Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 65-70ºF

Seed Planting Depth:  Sow on the surface and lightly cover

Starting Indoors:  Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Provide 65-70ºF soil temperature for germination. Sow a few seeds per individual cell or pot or start in a 20-row tray, then transplant into larger cells/pots/containers. Transplant outside after the last frost, 6-8" apart.

Sowing Outdoors: Starting indoors is recommended. Direct sow around the last frost date. Sow seeds close together in a row and when thinning out the seedlings transplant them to other places in the garden. 

Growth Habit: Low-growing, creeping 

Height and Width: 6-8” x 12-18” 

Spacing:  6-8” apart   

Light Needs: Full sun 

Soil Needs: Creeping Thyme needs average, well drained soil

Flowering: 85-95 days

Harvest: Leaves-before the plant flowers, use fresh or dried

Uses: Medicinal, culinary, ornamental, containers, handles light foot traffic, ground cover- near pathways, patios and stepping stones, borders, edges or underplanting, cascading over rock walls  drought tolerant, attracts bees and beneficials                    

Care: Does not compete with weeds during the first two seasons. Trim back lightly after flowering for new growth. Can be divided every few years