Thyme Growing Guide

Thyme is an amazing herb that’s often confused with rosemary. While both have small, thin leaves growing from bunches of stems, their flavor profiles are extremely distinct. While rosemary has a lightly minty, peppery taste with a woody aftertaste, thyme also has traces of lavender and citrus. Fragrant and ornamental, if you’re growing thyme in pots on your apartment patio or balcony, you need this growing guide to keep your kitchen flush with the perfect garnish for meats, soups, pasta, and more! Follow our advice for growing thyme in containers to ensure a healthy, thriving garden.

General Thyme Tips

As a low-growing perennial from the Mediterranean region, thyme is a drought-resistant plant that loves the heat. If you plan on growing your thyme indoors, we recommend placing it in an area that gets a lot of sunlight, as it needs 6-8 hours of sun per day. Depending on the size of your containers, we suggest you place small cuttings in fertilized soil 12-24” apart once the soil reaches 70℉, usually a couple of weeks before the last spring frost. With enough room to grow, your thyme should reach 2-12” in height very quickly.

When growing thyme in pots, regularly prune throughout spring and summer to keep the plant from overgrowing, and lightly mulch the soil when the ground freezes. After several years of growing thyme in containers, you will want to replace your plants, as their flavor evolves and becomes woodier as they age.

Fast Care Facts

Growing thyme in pots successfully means keeping your plants healthy enough to harvest and use in recipes. Use these quick facts as a reference for what to look out for in your garden.