I seem to be complete failure growing thyme. Tried so many packets of seeds but get nothing.
Keeping buying plants and they die. Tried both the cheap Tesco ones and also expensive nursery types. I thought they liked well drained limey soil. What am I doing wrong?
I have just bought three new plants one yellow, one variegated, one plain. Nice sturdy plants so I really want them to thrive. I do hate killing plants.
I love cooking carrots in foil with thyme, rosemary and bay with apple juice. The rosemary and bay are on a take over bid so now just need the thyme.
I've got my thyme growing in a terracotta pot. I do keep it well watered otherwise it dries out and looks very sorry for itself. I've had this growing for about 5 years so must be doing something right.
QuoteI thought they liked well drained limey soil. What am I doing wrong?
Yes they should..but are you treating them too tough? Some are more of 'rockery' plants but if you want to grow them for cooking, they need to grow little more 'lush' conditions.
Mine, just ordinary thyme, is planted into ordinary loamy soil in border..I did give it handful or two some grit into planting hole and that's it..no frills for it. What it likes, is having a good 'haircut' every so often to prevent it going leggy, it doesn't get extra fertilizers as such but the border where it grows is quite carbon rich with rotting straw mulch and old wood chippings.
I have always had great success with thyme by growing from cuttings... or from baby plants grown as an offshoot from a main plant. I plant in a border in a well exposed position, in sandy loam, although they like a little dressing of manure once a year. Not too much water and take a few branches off regularly to stimulate growth.
Just to confuse things, I've got a huge clump in my claggy clay, I grew the plants from seed about 5 years ago and they've thrived. I give the whole lot a bit of a haircut every now and again but no feed. I wonder if it's one of those plants that are OK once you can get them to a certain size, and then they aren't so fussy?
Hi you're not the only one cursing thyme but the problem i have is plants getting woody and dying in a year or so
i love the herb but buying a couple of packs in the reduced section is better value or buying a living plant from a shop and separating out to plant seem best way for use so far.
The one herb I have had major success with in my intermittent gardening times! Have a lovely Thyme 'mat' from two plants put in loamy but stony soil so well drained.
Perhaps I should have asked why people think my thyme is dieing? Seems I have been doing all the right things, bit it rarely survives through the winter. I have very well drained soil. I seem to end up with a mouldy mess.
I shall try the allotment instead, sometimes things thrive there that fail in the garden, it is just that it is so much easier to pop outside the front door and grab a few herbs.
Quote from: Digeroo on February 07, 2014, 09:10:29
Perhaps I should have asked why people think my thyme is dieing? Seems I have been doing all the right things, bit it rarely survives through the winter. I have very well drained soil. I seem to end up with a mouldy mess.
I shall try the allotment instead, sometimes things thrive there that fail in the garden, it is just that it is so much easier to pop outside the front door and grab a few herbs.
Hmm...I wonder if it is too sheltered position...perhaps not enough air flow= too damp...or is there over hanging roof that might drip to soil nearby the plant? ...or is it possible cat or dog/fox is using the spot as their marking spot?
OK well if it helps mine is planted on an open border between roses and various odds and sods, has not full but some sun (if we ever see it). It is certainly well-drained.
Asked friend who has a lovely 'thyme path' and the situation is the same.
CLx