Thyme (thyme) lemon: planting and care, growing from seeds with photo

The medicinal properties of many plants have been known for a very long time. In order to grow their own green pharmacy on the beds, gardeners are looking for opportunities to plant medicinal plants. Growing lemon thyme is not difficult, but its useful qualities cannot be overestimated.

Lemon-smelling thyme: description

There are more than 400 species of this plant, the most common is lemon thyme. It is undemanding in care, unpretentious and very useful. Its use is very wide: lemon-smelling thyme is used in cooking, cosmetology and traditional medicine.

Perennial plant - the result of crossing common thyme and flea. It differs from other varieties by a pronounced lemon smell. Moreover, not only the leaves smell, but also the stem and flowers.

Plant appearance:

bush height 15-25 cm;
by autumn the trunk near the base becomes woody;
sprawling or upright depending on growing conditions;
leaf length 1 cm, width 3 cm, curved edges;
flowers are on the stem itself, their diameter is 4 mm;
flower bell-shaped, spike inflorescence.

The positive characteristics of the plant are beneficial in many areas, but do not forget about the slight lack of culture. It does not tolerate a strong drop in temperature.Therefore, in the winter it is recommended to cover it. If this is not done, the stems will die off every year, and the plant will turn from a perennial to an annual.

Lemon thyme varieties

Selection does not stand still, today a large number of varieties of this medicinal herb are known. But among them there are also the most common ones, which many summer residents know firsthand.

Donna Varley

A variety of thyme lemon variety Donna Varley has all the positive characteristics of the plant.

Description:

height 10cm;
fast growing plant;
leaves are small, length 5-10 mm, golden color, with a yellow-green tint;
flowers are small, collected at the end of the stem, light lilac;
flowering time: May-Aug.

Thyme variety Donna Varley prefers sunny areas. If it grows in shade or partial shade, it stretches and becomes faded, losing the golden hue of the leaves.

Needs additional watering only in case of a very dry period. The rest of the time it is content with natural precipitation.

When choosing a soil for planting, it is better to opt for fertile and drained, strongly acidic soil types should be avoided.

Thyme Donna Varley has strong immunity to diseases. If the plant is trimmed regularly, it grows compact and dense.

Silver Queen

A common variety of thyme has the following characteristics:

height 10-15 cm, during flowering 30 cm due to rising peduncles;
width 80cm;
fast growing plant;
sheet length 1 cm, dark green color with white border, folded down;
small light pink flowers collected in a loose ear;
flowers from June to August.

Prefers to grow in the sun, blooms well in the shade. From soils chooses fertile and drained. Does not like acidic soils, but grows in slightly acidic soils. Pruning is needed to form a compact bush.

Thyme is undemanding for watering, but needs additional moisture during dry periods in spring and summer. Soil bogging is not allowed. The plant does not get sick with anything, it is not afraid of pests.

Golden Duarf

Summer residents prune plants to form compact, dense bushes used for alpine slides or garden decorations.

Characteristics of thyme Golden Duarf:

height 15-30 cm;
fast growing plant;
leaf length 1 cm, color bright green with yellow spots;
flowers are small, pink, collected at the tips of the stem in spikelets;
flowers from June to August.

Thyme is undemanding to humidity, but does not like waterlogging. Virtually immune to diseases and pests. The soil is better to choose fertile, thyme grows under any lighting conditions. Not afraid of frost. Widely used for decorating gardens, the reason is that lemon thyme has a bright and unusual color of the leaves.

Bertram Anderson

Perennial plant with strong lemon scent.

Description of thyme Bertram Anderson:

height 20 cm;
growing fast;
leaf length 1 cm, bright yellow color;
lavender-pink flowers, small, during flowering their size reaches 30 cm;
flowers from June to July.

Thyme grows in the shade and in the sun. When choosing a place for planting, pay attention to the fertility of the soil. It must be neutral. Do not choose places with acidic soil.

Thyme Anderson is drought tolerant, but needs extra water during hot days.

Growing thyme from seed outdoors

The most proven and surest way to propagate and grow thyme is to plant seeds. Special difficulties should not arise even for beginners in this business.

Cultivation of lemon thyme has no special features. It is enough to choose the right place, choose the seeds and carry out the agricultural practices familiar to all summer residents.

First of all, the summer resident selects a place for the plant to grow and develop well. A well-lit area of moderate fertility and protected from stagnant moisture is needed. Properly organized drainage will help get rid of excess moisture.

Shadow adversely affects thyme, its peduncles stretch upwards, and the plant itself turns pale.

Seeds of thyme of any variety are sown in autumn and spring. The main condition is a long warm period so that the thyme has time to take root.

Before you start planting, you need to prepare the site, loosen not very deep and remove all weeds. Urea and humus are introduced, then they start planting. Thyme seeds are sown superficially, without deepening them into the soil. Sprinkle a thin layer of river sand on top. Row spacing 40 cm.

Plantings need moisture to grow, so they strictly monitor that the soil does not dry out. When the thyme grows up, it must be thinned out, leaving a distance of 30 cm between the bushes.

Growing a plant at home

You don't have to do anything special to grow lemon thyme. Difficulties with growing will not arise. Thyme is unpretentious and undemanding to conditions. It is enough to fulfill some requirements, and the plant will feel good on the windowsill in a pot.

It is necessary to purchase a small flower pot with a diameter of 15-20 cm. Choose a sunny place.

You should start with drainage, the layer height is 2 cm. Then the fertile soil is watered with water and thyme seeds are sown. The depth of embedding is 1 cm, shoots will appear in 10 days. All this time, they carefully monitor the soil moisture, preventing drying out.

After the thyme has risen, it is provided with warmth and sunlight. So the thyme will develop properly, the plants will not stretch out and lose their smell.

Leaves are torn off constantly, do not forget that it is not necessary to cut off much. The plant will weaken or die.

Plant care

Thyme does not require special care. But if you follow some rules, an elegant, beautiful bush of thyme becomes a decoration of the garden.

Irrigation

Watered regularly, but in moderation, lemon thyme does not tolerate waterlogging. Increase the number of waterings and the volume of water only during the flowering of thyme.

Cutting

Plants for flower beds form. It is enough to cut the tops in autumn, and in spring the thyme will begin to grow in width, forming a wide and voluminous bush.

Loosening

It is necessary to loosen the soil, this will help retain moisture and give the thyme roots enough oxygen to develop.

Feeding

Fertilizers are introduced even when planting lemon-smelling thyme seeds, urea is introduced. After this, it must be done every spring.

Fresh manure is strictly prohibited for this medicinal plant. If the soil has high acidity, it is allowed to add some wood ash to the soil. The following years, mineral fertilizers will do.

Protection from pests and diseases

Thyme has strong immunity thanks to fragrant substances. But due to improper agricultural practices, thyme is attacked by insects:

aphids;
meadow moths;
sand lingering;
weevils.

So that the plants do not get sick, it is necessary to follow the rules of agricultural technology.

Home care

It's as easy to take care of the house as it is in the garden. Thyme needs light and temperature. In autumn, the thyme pot is removed to a darker window. Or lower the room temperature. It is even recommended to put thyme on the balcony, provided that it is glazed and does not freeze much.

It is not necessary to feed, mineral fertilizers are applied if desired. Under room conditions, pruning is carried out 2 times:

before the onset of cold weather;
after the end of winter.

Water the thyme as needed, without overdrying or flooding the plants.

Harvesting

For fresh consumption, thyme leaves and stems are harvested at any time. Do it carefully, with the help of garden tools, damage to the roots leads to the death of the entire plant.

For medicinal purposes, the entire aerial part of the thyme is used, it is cut from June to August during the flowering period. At this time, the plant is most fragrant and healing.

Dry thyme, laying out in a thin layer or hanging in bunches, in a dark, well-ventilated area. After the thyme dries, it is crushed and put into airtight containers. The harvested crop is stored for 2 years. Put the thyme in a dark place.

Lemon thyme contains many substances that benefit the body. Growing medicinal herbs is easy and maintenance is minimal. Thyme grows beautifully on the windowsill, delighting the harvest all year round.