Thyme: outdoor cultivation in the suburbs with photo and video

Thyme or thyme, which in Russia was called Bogorodskaya grass, takes root on stone slopes, grows in forest clearings, meadows, sands. In the wild, the shrub is found in all countries of Europe and Asia, in the north of the African continent. In the Moscow region, thyme is often planted as an ornamental plant.

The perennial stems creeping along the ground form a green carpet strewn with purple, pink or lilac inflorescences. Such beauty pleases summer residents all summer. Thyme buds appear as soon as the snow melts.

Features of growing thyme in the suburbs

Among the three hundred varieties of fragrant shrubs in Russia, there are more than a hundred, but creeping or common thyme is most often planted. Summer residents and gardeners know where thyme grows best, what land they prefer. In the suburbs, perennials are grown:

• out in the open;
• on the windowsill;
• in a container.

Grass seeds are added to fish and meat, used in salads and sauces. To provide a family with fragrant seasoning or herbs, a lot of space for thyme is not needed - a window sill on the south side is enough. To decorate flower beds, thyme is planted in containers. In the open field, thyme grows on alpine hills, along paths.

In areas where there are slopes and rises, creeping thyme descends beautifully, purple or pink inflorescences merge with the leaves in an original way. For perennial wintering in the Moscow region, there is no need to cover the roots.Thyme does not tolerate dampness, does not like heavy soil, but is resistant to frost.

How does this plant reproduce?

Thyme stalks take root quickly, every year it occupies an increasing area of the site, drowning out the flowers in the flower beds, and summer residents sometimes have to fight it. Thyme breeds:

• on my own;
• seeds;
• cuttings;
• dividing bushes.

When the earth warms up to at least 15 degrees, peat and sand are poured into the container in the same proportion. The soil is watered and thyme seeds are placed in it to a depth of 5 cm, covered with soil, covered with a film on top. The container is transferred to a warm place. After 2 weeks, shoots should appear. When the sprouts come out, the container is put on the windowsill, where it is light. Seedlings should be thinned out and watered, and after 70 days sent to the garden.The distance between seedlings should be 2 cm, between rows - no more than 25.

For propagation by cuttings, strong shoots are selected, the length of which is not less than 10 cm. Before the thyme begins to bloom, the young stems are cut with secateurs and placed in wet sand, covered with a film. When the roots are formed, which usually happens after two weeks, the thyme is transplanted to a new place in the open ground.

To propagate thyme, a bush is dug out of the ground, a part with a root is carefully separated from it, which is placed in the soil, covered with a film or a jar. Transplantation should be done in early spring or October. The plant takes root better if the cutting is treated with Kornevin growth stimulator, and the roots are not shaken off the ground.

How to choose a place to land?

Although thyme is classified as unpretentious crops, but in order for it to please with bright inflorescences, certain conditions must be observed.The shrub should be planted in the area where the rays of the sun fall all day. In the shade, the shoots stretch out, few buds appear, the decorative qualities of the culture deteriorate.

When growing thyme in a house or apartment, place it on the south window.

Choice of soil for thyme

Subshrub does not take root well on heavy lands where water stagnates, does not like acidic soil, loves sandy. In the wild, it is found even in rocky areas, but does not grow in wetlands. Such features of thyme need to be known to summer residents who first decided to plant thyme in open ground.

The culture normally tolerates a long absence of watering, but with stagnant moisture, the roots rot. To prevent this from happening, after planting a bush in dense soil, sand is poured on top with a thin layer.

Grass care

Thyme will please with a lush carpet and aroma if the necessary conditions for its growth are provided. When growing thyme in the garden or in the summer cottage, the focus is on:

• preparing the ground;
• moisturizing;
• weeding;
• pest control.

In autumn, the soil is dug up to a depth of at least 20 cm, weeds are pulled out by the roots. Sand is added to heavy soil or mixed with peat. The addition of ash helps to reduce acidity. Feed the soil with organic matter. Manure is suitable for this purpose, compost is suitable.

Landing

In the spring, the site chosen for thyme is dug up again. Thyme is sown in the soil when it warms up to 13 degrees. The thick shoots that have appeared are thinned out, leaving about 30 cm between them. When growing thyme in open ground, seedlings are first prepared. To do this, the seeds are placed in a container or tray in which the earth is constantly moistened. Cover the container with glass. At the age of a month, a box with seedlings is taken out in the air, and after 2 weeks, the hardened seedlings are sent to a permanent place.

Irrigation

Thyme is not afraid of drought, it is necessary to moisten the soil only during prolonged heat. To prevent the water from evaporating quickly, straw, compost, river sand or expanded clay are poured around the shrub. Thanks to mulching, thyme is not oppressed by weeds, moisture remains in the ground longer. During heat and drought, watering is necessary once a week, sometimes twice, after which the soil needs to be loosened.

To give the thyme a beautiful shape, the stems are shortened in the spring, and then the young shoots form a lush green hat. Old branches are cut with secateurs in the fall.

Feeding

If organic matter was introduced into the soil before planting, in the spring, before germination, the thyme is fertilized with urea and ash. The following year, shrubs are fed with organic matter during pruning. Plants react negatively to fresh manure.

Diseases and pests

With proper care, observance of agricultural technology, thyme does not suffer from insect invasion. They do not like the smell of essential oils present in the composition of the plant. The semi-shrub is resistant to diseases, but sometimes the stems and leaves serve as food for pests in the form of:

• weevil;
• aphids;
• meadow moths.

You can fight insects using traps, however, you can often cope with them only by spraying shrubs with insecticide solutions.

When moisture stagnates, which happens when the soil is heavy, it constantly rains, thyme is affected by fungal diseases. Loosening the soil and adding sand to it helps to prevent their development.

Collection and storage

Thyme in the Moscow region is often grown to decorate alpine slides, decorate flower beds. Dry shoots of the plant are used to make tea, decoctions. So that the smell does not disappear, you must follow the rules when collecting and storing thyme.

Harvesting leaves and stems when the shrub is covered with flowers. Young shoots are cut and consumed fresh.

So that the thyme does not rot, it is not washed with water before drying, it is evenly laid out on paper. Timely collection and storage are the main conditions, compliance with which guarantees the aroma of both leaves and flowers.

Landscape designers use thyme for arranging flowerbeds and slides, appreciate it for its high decorative qualities. Owners of summer cottages and suburban areas plant thyme not only to decorate their work, but also to obtain spices and medicines When harvested and stored in a timely manner in compliance with the basic rules, neither leaves, nor stems, nor flowers lose their useful properties.

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