Thyme: variety information
THE thyme or of its scientific name Thymus vulgaris, is a aromatic grass of the Lamiaceae family, from the Mediterranean basin. It is characterized by its green foliage and its very branched branches. This aromatic plant of the sun perfumes our dishes of Provencal flavors and bring multiple health benefits: antiseptics, antispasmodic and antibacterial.
It is a very easy to cultivate aromatic plant because it is robust. It adapts to the poorest soils and lives several years. Indeed, it is a perennial, a type of plant that survives more than a year and even resists the cold of winter, provided that there is not too much humidity.
The different reasons to cultivate this aromatic plant:
In the kitchen: thyme is widely used in bouquet garni, For flavor dishes or in infusion. It also has effect against rheumatism, you can infuse it with aromatic plants from the same family such as sage and rosemary to calm cough and sore throat.Thyme has a rich nutritional contribution: iron, vitamins C and K, antioxidant.
It is an excellent plant for start in gardening Because she only asks little maintenance. His Colorful flowers Going from white to pink, via purple, will bring color to your garden and to your interior.
DESCRIPTION AND FLOWING OF THYM
There are many thyme varieties: the most widespread being the Common thyme, whose flowering manifests itself by pinkish white flowers at the end of the stems during spring and summer. There is also the lemon thyme or Thymus citriodorus which is characterized by thick foliage and light flowers, the Wild thyme or thyme serpolet which has more purple flowers, the Long rod thyme which is noticed by its long -sized leaves, or the Early thyme 'minor' which has beautiful very pink flowers.
This perennial aromatic plant is a shrub about 25cm high that grows on a limestone and dry land: it therefore needs Lots of sun and very little water.
How to maintain common thyme?
The common thyme requires little maintenance. It will simply be necessarywater up after sowing, then when the aromatic plant has grown well, it will be necessary to avoid excess water that could rot the roots. Maintain thyme will also help it develop greater foliage and gain height without getting off. For this purpose, it will be necessary cut up regularly thyme. The size will preferably be during flowering, a period during which it gives off a delicious perfume.
Thyme plantation: tips and tricks
With what plants cultivate thyme?
You can cultivate the common thyme next to the Rosemary. Indeed, these two aromatic plants, of the same family, ask for same planting conditions, that is to say a fairly dry, poor and stony or even limestone soil and a lot of sun. Moreover, the rosemary flowers will associate very well with pink flowers of thyme in garden as indoors. The harvest of rosemary leaves, for these two varieties, can be carried out from 4 weeks.
The common thyme is also known for its perfume which repels pests: slugs, flies and mosquitoes, its culture will therefore promote the development of other plants such as carrot.
Thyme watering
Thyme is an aromatic plant that does not like humidity and who needs a lot of sun. This variety can survive cold if it is not too wet. For Keep your thyme for a long time, it will need a well -drained land to evacuate the water. Watering will however be necessary after sowing, for a year if you observe that the earth is dry. After this year, you will have to avoid watering the aromatic plant, and it will be necessary to place it in a place with good exposure to the sun.
How to sow thyme?
The thyme can also be cultivated in both garden and interior: vegetable patch, balcony or pot. The pot a very good alternative and you can place it directly in your kitchen to have its sheets available according to your needs.
Sowing in the garden:
The sowing in the garden is done during spring, a period when thyme can enjoy the sun but without excess and where there will be no risk of jelly. For sowing, you will have to choose thyme seeds, preferably labeled "organic farming" which will have the advantage of being more resistant, will allow a long -term culture and are in accordance with environmental standards. You will also have to choose the soil: dry, well drained soil and with little water.
The thyme needs sun to be able to germinate, so it will be necessary sow the seeds In the drained soil, then tamp the seeds without driving them. Water the ground after sowing So that the seeds can lift. After two months, you can transplant By leaving a 25cm size space between each plant.
Indoor thyme sowing:
You can Cultivate the common thyme inside in your vegetable garden, planter or pot. Thyme needs a well -drained land, it will therefore be necessary drain with a clay ball or gravel that you will place in your pot. You can then add to this soil the soil with a mixture of garden soil for its limestone contribution. Sow the common thyme then sprinkle slightly. You will have to place yourPotting thyme In the sun frequently since thyme needs good lighting. At the start of your plantation, water the ground So that the seeds can lift, then stop watering after a year.
If you start, also discover our common thyme clod which includes all the ingredients necessary for its good culture: an optimized dose of soil, nutrients adapted to its growth and seeds of French origin and labeled "AB".
Thyme drying techniques
You can Keep thyme long in the freezing Or by drying it. It is also particularly tasty in a bouquet garni. To dry your common thyme in the open air, tie the strands into a bouquet, then hang their heads down in a warm, dry but sunny and airy place. Leave the bouquet for two weeks.