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Thyme from Seed

18 years ago

I'd like to use a couple varieties of thyme together for pathways. It seems as though not all thymes can be propagated from seed (according to Richter's catalogue)and I think this would be the easiest and most cost effective way to grow it. Is this true and does anyone know the reason? Or have I just not found the right supplier yet?

If anyone knows a supplier of seed or names of varieties you've grown successfully from seed I'd sure like to know. I grow Creeping Thyme(T. serpyllum)very easily from seed, but I'd like something shorter, it gets up to 8" tall in my garden. A combo like Wooly Thyme and something a bit taller would look nice I think.

The other thing is that most are listed as Zone 4 or 5, yet I grow Wooly and Lemon Thyme (bought as plants)and I'm in Zone 1b. What varieties have those of you in zone 1 and 2 grown with success?

Richter's does offer 'Magic Carpet' and 'Wild Thyme' from seed, but they are listed as zone 4 and 5 and I'm leery of taking a chance without knowing if they are hardier than listed.

Thanks in advance for any advice you have :)

Toots

Comments (11)

  • 18 years ago

    I've only got the two species that you grow too. I've never ventured out to try more ;)

    I've also never seen Thymus pseudolanuginosus seed for sale, most likely because it seldom sets seeds.

    Sharon

  • 18 years ago

    Magic Carpet is hardy, easy from seed and not very tall. Wooly Thyme is easy to start more from cuttings. After wintering several seasons, though, most of my Wooly Thyme died out last year - I'm pretty sure it had to do with some early frigid temps with no snow cover.

  • 18 years ago

    I grow 'Thymus serpyllum' that I started from seed from JL Hudson. It makes a spreading mat only 3 or 4" high and was very easy to start inside.
    Leo

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks so much, your info really helps.

    A way to go about it might be to broadcast some seed of a taller variety then plant some wooly thyme plugs hither and thither along the path and let them blend. Mmmmm...I can't wait, its going to smell sooo good :)

  • 18 years ago

    Pudge, could I get some advice on starting cuttings of wooly thyme? Mine always seem to rot before they get roots.

    Thanks, Connie

  • 18 years ago

    I think the easiest way to get more wooly thyme is to lift up a mat of it from the edges of the plant, lay it over some damp soil and press it down firmly so the underside is making good contact with the soil. After that roots it could be divided up into smaller, rooted sections. The stuff used to grow well over onto our brick driveway with no soil underneath and when I lifted it up there wasn't any moisture under there, so it really needs very, very little moisture to survive.

  • 18 years ago

    I just read in Canadian Gardening that you take a clump of Wooly Thyme and make a kind of milkshake out of it. Remove excess soil, crumble the plant into a blender and add 2 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt and an equal amount of water (or substitute a can of beer and 1/2 tsp sugar for the buttermilk - but what a waste of beer!). Blend at low speed until the mixture is the consistency of a thin milkshake and pour onto soil (or rocks)and mist to keep slightly moist until moss is well established.

    Guess it's like hydro seeding.
    Kate

  • 18 years ago

    That's interesting...I've heard it for moss but not for other plants. It may be a way to make a bit of Wooly Thyme go a long way.

  • 18 years ago

    Toots, they have THYMUS serphyllum (Low Form) on sale at Gardens North ;)

  • 18 years ago

    Hey, Thanks Sharon :)
    I already ordered some Wild Thyme seeds and a few plugs of Purple Carpet Thyme from Richter's, but I like the looks of this one. Looks like its super low growing like Woolly Thyme. Hmmm, but oh gosh, I'll have to peruse the rest of the seeds on sale to make the order worthwhile!

  • 18 years ago

    LOL, I did the same thing Toots, I had to order more seeds to make an order worth while.

    Sharon

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