Well. It’s About Darn Thyme.
THYME - Thymus vulgaris
Thyme is probably one of the most favorites herbs of a southern kitchen gardener. Plant this herb in early spring and it will last all year long (although you might have to dig it up and bring it inside depending on how cold it gets). Thyme will thrive in full sun or partial shade and in well-drained soil. Thyme can be started from seed indoors under lights, but it’s easier to start from transplants as the seeds are super tiny and tend not to germinate easily.
Thyme grows really well in containers and raised beds. And, since different varieties of Thyme have very distinct flavors, gardeners often grow several varieties in the garden. Just be sure to keep the Thyme varieties separate so they don’t get all tangled together.
Trim your Thyme regularly to keep it in check. After a few years, Thyme may become kind of straggly and woody. Just pull it out and replant and you’ll be good to go. You can take cuttings from the old plants to start your new plants. Or you can divide the old plants and replant them in a different area of the garden. Harvest Thyme by clipping off stems that are 6-8 inches long.
TIME TO EAT
Thyme is a super popular herb that can be used in a variety of different dishes including stocks and stews, vinegars and oils, stuffings, pork, beef, chicken, vegetables and breads.
Try this Grilled Chicken Wing recipe for a quick and easy dinner treat: 2 lbs chicken wings; 6-8 medium garlic cloves, finely minced; 1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme; 2 Tbsp vegetable oil; 1-1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper. Pat wings very dry. Whisk garlic, thyme, oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add wings and toss to coat. Cover and chill 30 minutes or up to overnight. Grill wings over medium heat, turning until skin is starting to brown and an instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees F. During cooking, rotate wings to a cooler section of grill if they start to burn. Total cook time: approx. 15-25 mins. Transfer wings to a platter and season with additional salt and pepper. Adapted from the garlic-herb chicken wing recipe on Epicurious.
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW
While English Thyme is the most common variety, there are almost 400 varieties of Thyme. In the southern kitchen garden, you’ll most likely find Lemon Thyme (which has a lemony citrus smell and taste) or Caraway Thyme (known for its rose-purple flowers and mild caraway flavor). There’s also Mother-of-Thyme (which is a variety of Creeping Thyme) that has tiny oval leaves and purple flowers and makes a fabulous ground cover along a garden wall or in between stepping stones.
I hope this gets you thinking about planting an herb garden. Here on the blog each week we’ll take a look at a different herb, and before you know it you’ll be ready to take on your own garden! If you’d like some help with design and planning, click the button below to reach out.
