Thyme’s little flowers attract a variety of beneficial insects including native pollinators, honeybees, and predatory wasps. Thyme makes an excellent companion plant. It can be planted in with cabbage, potatoes, eggplant, and strawberries. It’s thought that it repels cabbage worms, flea beetles, and tomato hornworms.
Is thyme good for my garden?
4: Thyme attracts beneficial insects and pollinators.
This flowering herb attracts a wide variety of pollinators and is especially favored by lacewings, a beneficial insect, for egg-laying habitat. Lacewing larvae are voracious predators of aphids, whiteflies, cabbage moth caterpillars, and many others.
What plants benefit from thyme?
8 Companion Plants to Grow With Thyme
- Strawberries. Thyme works as a deterrent to worms.
- Cabbage family crops.
- Tomatoes.
- Eggplants.
- Potatoes.
- Blueberries.
- Shallots.
- Roses.
What can you not plant near thyme?
Thyme grows well with many things. That being said, avoid growing thyme near basil, cilantro, and chives. These tend to appreciate soil that is moist rather than on the dry side.
Where do you put thyme in a garden?
Plant out in a warm, sunny spot in the garden. They demand well-drained soil and will rot over winter if the ground is too wet. If your soil is too heavy or you have a small garden, grow thyme in pots – they will thrive in 15cm (6in) pots filled with a gritty potting medium, ideally soil.
Does thyme spread easily?
They will cover up stepping stones, spreading their stems onto paving searching for ground to root in. Slower growing thymes are more appropriate for small spaces like those between flagstones. Just like all plants, thyme plants spread by growing from one set of leaves to the next.
Does thyme deter animals?
Rabbits are repelled by rosemary, sage and thyme because they don’t like the taste of them. When planted near peas, lettuce and beans, the herbs will help to protect the plants from the rabbits. Onions and garlic plants also work as deterrents for rabbits because the scent and taste bothers them.
Is thyme invasive?
I must mention that most members of the mint family will become quite invasive if left to their own devices. Mint, oregano, pennyroyal and even thyme will spread through underground runners and can quickly take over the garden. They can be hard to remove as small bits of roots left behind can grow into full plants.
Is thyme good for pests?
Thyme. Thyme is an herb you can rely on when insects are bothering your home. The herb deters mosquitoes, earworm, maggot, hornworm, and whiteflies. You can plant thyme in your garden easily as it can become accustomed to dry and shallow soil.
Can you use thyme as a ground cover?
Thymes are versatile, colorful, and fragrant plants, offering masses of delicate, starlike flowers. Tuck a thyme into a dry wall, stone walkway, or rock garden. Use it as a ground cover or as an edging for a perennial border. These hardy little plants add swaths of color and fragrance in unexpected places.
Do basil and thyme grow well together?
Thyme is another herb that you should avoid growing near your basil. Thyme and basil’s growing requirements are different. Thyme needs drier soil and is tolerant of sandy soil, whereas basil requires moist, nutrient-dense soil.
Can you plant thyme and lavender together?
If colder weather is not a concern, thyme does extremely well when planted near lavender, enjoying the full sun and the occasional watering. The pair complement each other in looks too. Thyme makes a cute ground covering plant with its paler purple flowers that will look great alongside your lavender patch.
How often should I water thyme?
Thyme is an herb that can thrive with very little watering. You should only have to water this herb every 10–15 days. Thyme is also a plant that can thrive in colder months thanks to its hardy nature.
Does thyme come back every year?
A majority of herbs are perennials throughout most of the United States. That means they come back year after year and usually get bigger or spread in territory each year. Some of our most-used cooking herbs are perennials, including sage, oregano and thyme.
Does thyme grow back after cutting?
Thyme grows back after cutting, and often grows back fuller and stronger. To make sure your plant bounces back, remove only the softest, greenest stems from the plant when harvesting. Never cut past the woody part of the stem. This is the place where new growth occurs.
How do you cut thyme so it keeps growing?
In late fall, after the first frost, select one-third of the oldest and woodiest stems on your thyme plant. Using sharp, clean shears, cut these stems back by half. Repeat the process the next year until your thyme plant has returned to growing younger, more tender stems all over the plant.
Is thyme safe for dogs?
In short, yes. Thymus vulgaris, the type of thyme most commonly sold in grocery stores, is non-toxic and safe for dogs to consume. Your dog may eat small to moderate amounts of this fresh herb without any threat of toxicity or adverse effects to your dog’s health.
Should I let my thyme flower?
Thyme’s tiny flowers are pretty and white. Though you can pinch the flowers off to allow the plant to produce more leaves, the flavor of thyme really isn’t compromised by letting the plant bloom.
How long does thyme plant last?
Thyme is a perennial herb that often only lives for 5 or 6 years even with good care. After 3 years thyme plants growth tends to slow down and produce less leaves with a weak aroma and inferior flavour compared to younger thyme plants.
What insects does thyme attract?
Attracting Beneficial Insects
| Common Name | Attracts | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Crimson thyme | parasitic wasps | aphids |
| whitefly | ||
| caterpillars | ||
| tachinid flies | caterpillars |
Does thyme keep mosquitoes away?
Thyme, including red creeping thyme (shown), possesses excellent mosquito-repelling properties. The secret is to crush the leaves to release the volatile oils. You can simply place crushed stems around outdoor seating areas or rub the leaves on skin or clothing.