Thyme is a perennial plant (another name for thyme) common in the temperate zones of Asia, Europe and even on the African continent. There are about four hundred species and is a creeping dwarf shrub with small dark green leaves and inflorescences of white, one-time or purple shades. Has a characteristic and very pleasant citrus scent
Among the Slavic peoples, thyme was called the Bogorodskaya grass. From time immemorial, people began to use tinctures and decoctions of thyme or thyme in folk medicine, as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. The extraordinary lemon scent made thyme a popular seasoning in the cooking of many nations. The presence of a large number of various essential oils in the composition of thyme is widely used by cosmetologists and the manufacture of many perfumery products.
Due to its beauty, variety, unpretentiousness and a large number of decorative varieties, thyme is often used in the landscape design of personal and suburban areas. When looking at the flower beds and alpine hills, overgrown with thyme of different color shades, one involuntarily arises a comparison of the plant with a green-purple living carpet, emitting a unique lemon scent.
Sowing and growing thyme
There are three main ways of creeping thyme propagation: cuttings, dividing an adult bush and seeds.
When thyme is propagated by cuttings, a part of a healthy green shoot (no more than 5 centimeters in size) is carefully cut off and planted in a container filled with pre-prepared soil. The soil should be loose, light and contain sand, peat and wood ash. The stalk is planted in the ground, covered with a glass or plastic cap, thereby creating a humid microclimate. It is very important to water the cutting properly; thyme does not like too moist soil.
Dividing a large adult bush into shoots. It is necessary to separate the bush, very carefully and carefully, so as not to damage the root system of each future plant. For better rooting, try not to shake the soil off the roots. Plant on a prepared, well-warmed area by the sun.
Growing seedlings from seeds allows you to get a large amount of planting material. Thyme seeds are scattered into a greenhouse or greenhouse to a depth of 5 millimeters. To sow one square meter of the prepared area, 1 gram of seeds is enough. The first shoots of thyme will sprout in 20-25 days. After the rise of thyme seeds, the sprouts are thinned out, moistened (in moderation, do not overuse watering), and weeds are regularly removed. In the spring, matured young plants are planted on alpine slides, flower beds, thyme is used as a living border for garden paths.
The soil for future seedlings of thyme should have a loose structure, contain sand, peat elements, and ash. The distance between the rows of planted seedlings should be at least twenty, twenty-five centimeters, and the distance between individual plants in a row should be from 20 to 30 centimeters.Closely planted plants will interfere with each other, and the flowers will turn out small.
Features of thyme care
The rules for caring for such a plant as thyme are not complicated, but they require strict adherence to all necessary procedures.
- For planting, you should choose areas of soil that are well warmed by the sun and protected from the wind. Thyme grown in the shade produces fewer flowers and fewer buds.
- Twice a year, in autumn and spring, thoroughly loosen the soil between the plants and apply a complex of fertilizers. It is best to apply fertilizers after mowing the bulk of the green mass of the plant. It is recommended to loosen the soil very carefully, the roots of the plant are located close to the soil surface and it is very easy to damage the root system.
- Thyme is a thermophilic plant and must be carefully covered with dry foliage or straw for the winter.
- The thyme watering regime depends on the amount of natural precipitation. The soil should be moderately moist, the increased moisture content in the soil under a dense carpet of leaves and flowers leads to the formation of gray rot, the roots get wet and the plant dies.
- Remove weeds in a timely and regular manner so that fast-growing weeds do not interfere with the development of young shoots.
- A special tool should be used to trim overgrown thyme bushes. By picking off large extra shoots with your hands, you can easily pull out a healthy bush from the soil.
- During the period of the beginning of flowering and the formation of buds, the amount of watering should be increased. So the flowers will bloom faster and delight with their beauty and scent for a longer time.
- Regular monitoring and inspection of thyme bushes will help to notice the appearance of pests in time and take appropriate measures.
- To make an elegant living carpet pleasing to the eye every summer, you should change the planting site of creeping thyme every 3-4 years.
- The time of transplanting thyme does not really matter, it is important to do this before the onset of severe cold weather, so that the plant takes root and takes root well. The collection of thyme herbs for herbal teas or medicinal tinctures traditionally in Russia took place on the day of the Holy Trinity. Dry the thyme herb in the shade, spread out on a linen or cotton cloth. In addition, dried berries and fruits of thyme are an exquisite seasoning for meat, fish and vegetable dishes.
It is noteworthy that thyme can be grown not only in the open air in flower beds or beds, but also in an ordinary apartment, by planting it in a special container or flower pot.
Growing thyme on the windowsill
Growing thyme at home, you can not only always have an original seasoning on hand, but also a bright decorative decoration of the room.
- The soil in which thyme is planned to be planted must be alkaline or neutral; drainage, sand and peat must be added.
- The pot or container must be large enough for the proper and full development of the plant's root system.
- Cover the container with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect.
- The room should be ventilated to provide fresh air for young plants.
- Heating devices and heating systems dry out the air very much, so it is very important to periodically spray the thyme sprouts with a spray bottle and reduce the temperature in the room.
- You can grow thyme at home all year round. All that is needed for this is a sunny windowsill or a well-insulated loggia.
Thyme or thyme is a very good neighbor for other ornamental plants. With the proper organization of the planting and care process for such a plant as thyme, the result will not take long. Sometimes, already in the first year, a fabulous flower carpet from white to rods will be able to decorate the recreation area and the area around the house. White, pink and purple flowers, a unique aroma will delight both the hosts and their guests.Thyme is especially loved for the fact that it blooms throughout the summer and flower beds, alpine slides look attractive all summer.
