The thyme should be cut when it reaches 8–10 inches. Remove the fresh, green stems and leave the tough, woody part of the stem intact. Remove the stems from the plant and place them in a clean, dry, well-ventilated container. Cover the container with plastic wrap and allow to air-dry for at least 24 hours before transplanting the new plant into its new home.
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How do you prune thyme to make it bushy?
For more compact, bushier growth, lower the plant while leaving at least one or two nodes for new growth.
Do I need to prune my thyme plant?
Trim thyme back after it’s finished flowering to promote new growth. You will be able to harvest more leaves through autumn. Plants will need to be replaced after three years if you don’t tidy them up. It won’t need to be trimmed after it’s established.
How do you maintain thyme?
Feed regularly with water-soluble plant food. When the top inch of the soil becomes dry, keep the soil moist and water it. Pruning more than one-third of the plant at a time can be avoided if you harvest as needed.
Does thyme come back every year?
Most of the United States have a majority of herbs that are perennial. They come back year after year and usually get bigger. Some of the most used cooking herbs are perennial. For example, sage is a perennial that grows year-round in many parts of North America. However, it is not a true perennial in the sense that it does not grow from seed.
It grows from the roots of a single plant, which is why it’s called a “stem-and-leaf” herb. This means that you can grow sage in your yard, garden, or even in a greenhouse. You can also grow it in containers, as long as you keep it away from other plants that might compete with it for water and nutrients.
Why is my thyme leggy?
If you are trying to get the best out of your herbs, the aroma and flavour of the leaves is not as pronounced as it is if you have excess nitrogen. The best way to deal with excess nitrogen is to reduce the amount of nitrogen in the soil.
This can be done by adding nitrogen fertiliser to your garden. Alternatively, you can use a soil test kit to check the nitrogen levels in your soil and adjust your fertilisers accordingly.
How do you stop thyme going Woody?
Pick one-third of the oldest and woodiest stems on your plant after the first frost. Use shears to cut the stems back in half. Continue the process for a year until your thyme plant is back to being tender and younger.
