My thyme is outside in the ground next to my greenhouse. Started from seeds two years ago, it has not failed me yet. I can go out in zero degrees and snip off leaves and stems if I need some. Most of it is under a lot of ice and snow right now. Another hardy one is my wild onions that are green all winter and look like, smell like, and taste like chives.

I'm jealous! I've been waiting weeks for thyme seeds to sprout. It's not looking good. . . .

I made a small tomato and herb garden in the strip of dirt between the house and walkway. I put one thyme plant in there. After that first year I moved away and my parents let the garden go to the weeds. Three years later I move back in and the only herb to survive was the thyme. I think the oregano held on for a year or two but the weeds or the sun got it.

Jessica, I had terrific luck winter sowing my thyme last year. Check out the wintersowing area for more info if you haven't already. Wintersowing is now my main seed starting method.

Of course, I still start my toms and peppers inside and my other non hardy annuals....but 75-80% of my seeds are now simply wintersown.

MArk-

Add a bit of heat under the pots of thyme seeds. Also, use a very good quality seed starting mix, something that is sterile. If not, many seeds can die due to damping off and fungal diseases that reside in soil. I never have any seed sprouting problems and have even been able to grow rosemary from seeds, as well as double blossom impatiens which need cool temps to sprout. If the thyme seeds are old, more than a year or two, they may not be viable anymore. I also sprout asparagus from seeds and these take nearly a month to emerge as very tiny spears. I do plant dill outside, but get better results if I wait until about April.

I brought in a spearmint from the garden last fall, and set it in the sun of the guest room. Then, we didn't have guests for a few months, and I discovered it, dried and dead. Well, procrastination leads to procrastination, and it sat there, un-watered and dead all winter.

Just two days ago, it started sending up shoots. It hasn't been watered in six months, and I have no idea what triggered it, but there it is, with shoots 8 inches tall already. I think I'll try watering it next. :)

Maybe its weed seeds that sprouted?

It's definitely spearmint - I've already enjoyed the little tips in some tea. :) But yes, they could be coming up from seed just as well as the dormant/dead main plant.