Content
You can grow thyme from seeds in open ground by direct sowing or through seedlings. It is important to correctly select and prepare a place, material, and organize proper care. You can buy thyme seeds or collect them yourself to grow.
What do thyme seeds look like?
Thyme seeds are very small - there are more than 4000 in 1 g. They are dark in color and oblong in shape. The seeds are contained in a small ellipsoidal or almost spherical nut. Depending on the type of plant, ripening occurs between July and September.
To grow yourself, thyme seeds are harvested after flowering. For storage, they are dried in a warm place, but out of direct sunlight.
The germination of thyme seeds lasts three years - to grow them, it is better to use them in the first season after harvesting
When to plant thyme seeds
In open ground, thyme seeds are sown in spring or autumn.In the first case, germination is higher; the second option is attractive due to its natural stratification. For spring planting, the temperature must be at least 12-15 °C, and the threat of return frosts must have passed.
How to grow thyme (thyme) from seeds in open ground
To successfully grow thyme, it is important to wisely select and prepare a place for it. Compliance with sowing rules and compliance with recommended timing is also important.
Selecting a location
To plant thyme in the country from seeds, it is important to choose the right place. The plant prefers sunny areas, but light partial shade is also acceptable. If the perennial is not provided with sufficient lighting, its growth and development will slow down. The bushes will be weak and elongated, flowering will be pale or completely absent.
The selected location must also meet the following requirements:
- fertile and light soil;
- good drainage;
- pH level is neutral, alkaline reaction is acceptable;
- remoteness of groundwater;
- protection from strong winds and drafts;
- In terms of soil composition, sandy loam or loam is preferable.
Thyme is used in landscape design and can be grown in different places. The perennial does well surrounded by stones and is suitable for vertical gardening.
Thyme is unpretentious, often grows in unexpected places, and is difficult to trample down.
Soil preparation
To successfully grow thyme, the site for planting it should be prepared in advance. If spring sowing is planned, then work begins in the fall. Preparation consists of digging up the site and applying organic fertilizers. Usually compost or humus is used. The addition of a potassium-phosphorus complex is also recommended.
It is difficult to grow thyme in areas with high acidity, since it will not develop well. To neutralize the reaction, fluff lime or dolomite flour is added.
In the spring, the digging is repeated. This is done 1-2 days before planting, when the temperature reaches at least 12 °C. After digging, the beds are loosened and watered with urea solution. Add 0.2 kg of fertilizer to 10 liters of water. This amount is enough to process 10 m².
Seed preparation
To grow thyme from seeds, you don’t need any special preparation. To improve germination, the seed is treated with a growth stimulator. Epin and Zircon will do. The drug is diluted according to the instructions and the seeds are soaked in it. The duration of treatment depends on the chosen drug.
Thyme seeds are very small, so before planting it is better to mix them with clean river sand. The seed must be dry.
Rules for sowing thyme seeds
Planting thyme with seeds is easy. In the prepared area it is sown in rows. You can make small grooves or holes. The interval between rows should be 35 cm. Depending on the type and variety of plant, this distance is adjusted.
Thyme seeds are very small, so they are sown freely. The number of plants is regulated in several stages after germination. As a result, an average of 30 cm should remain between neighboring bushes. When thinning, the strongest specimens are left.
The sown seeds are sprinkled with river sand. It not only protects them from being moved by the wind, but also contains valuable minerals. To speed up the emergence of seedlings, cover the bed with film.
Thyme seeds germinate after sowing in open ground at least two weeks later.
When and how to sow thyme for seedlings
It is better to plant thyme seeds for seedlings in the second half of May. The bushes are moved to open ground after mid-May. The soil should warm up to 15 °C. The optimal age of seedlings is 70 days.
The algorithm for sowing thyme for seedlings is simple:
- Prepare a soil mixture; a tandem of peat and sand will do.
- Disinfect the soil - treat it with a solution of potassium permanganate or bake it in the oven.
- Fill containers with soil.
- Soak the seeds in warm water for 12 hours, dry, and combine with river sand.
- Surface sow the prepared material.
- Sprinkle a small layer of sand.
- Moisten the crops with a spray bottle.
- Organize a film or glass shelter.
Thyme seedlings are regularly moistened and ventilated. The shelter is removed after germination, but gradually, starting from two hours. It is better to keep seedlings in a cool place with good lighting. In the phase of two true leaves, picking is carried out.
Features of care
Growing thyme is not difficult, as it is quite unpretentious. Water the perennial as needed, but no more than twice a week.
They begin to feed thyme from the second year, since at first the fertilizers applied during site preparation are sufficient. In the future, you can use them twice a season:
- in spring urea, ammonium or ammonium nitrate;
- during flowering, potassium-phosphorus complex.
Thyme is regularly weeded and loosened. Do this after watering or rain.
To grow denser and more compact thyme bushes, in early spring they are shortened by 2/3, but the woody parts of the shoots are not affected.Be sure to get rid of dried and frozen branches. Re-pruning is carried out when flowering ends.
Winter hardiness varies among different types of thyme. Creeping thyme can withstand frosts down to -34.4 °C, so it survives the cold season well. Less winter-hardy species need to be covered. Different materials are used for this:
- cardboard;
- lutrasil;
- fallen leaves;
- peat.
The shelter is removed in early May. If there is little snow in winter, then you should rake it up to the thyme - if there is insufficient cover, the plants often freeze out.
Diseases and pests
Growing thyme is not difficult, partly due to its good immunity. Excess moisture is fraught with fungal diseases for thyme, which is why it withers and rots. Fungicides are used for treatment and prevention:
- Abiga Peak;
- Bordeaux mixture;
- Ridomil;
- Speed;
- Strobe;
- Topaz;
- Fitosporin;
- Fundazol;
- Horus.
A common fungal disease is rust.
Thyme can be harmed by sand slugger. In addition to thyme, this beetle attacks many other crops. To combat it, use the drug Diazinon or Bazudin.
To prevent the appearance of sandworm, it is important to regularly weed thyme and destroy plant debris
A common enemy of thyme and other crops is aphids. The following drugs help against it:
- Aktara;
- Biotlin;
- Confidor;
- Corado;
- Tanrek.
Traditional methods are also effective against aphids - soap solution, tobacco or onion infusion, tobacco dusting
Thyme can be damaged by the meadow moth. The following drugs will save you from it:
- Bitoxibacillin;
- Dendrobacillin;
- Lepidocide;
- Fitoverm.
Damage is caused by meadow moth caterpillars that eat various parts of plants.
Thyme may suffer from weevil. The following drugs are used to control the pest:
- Aktellik;
- Decis;
- Karbafos;
- Metaphos;
- Fufanon.
To combat weevils, beetles are collected by hand using traditional methods
Conclusion
Growing thyme from seeds is not difficult; you can sow them directly into the ground or get seedlings first. Thyme prefers sunny areas, light soil with neutral acidity. It is important not to over-water it, regularly weed and loosen it, and, if necessary, cover it for the winter.
