Tuesday 24 April 2012

Thyme after Thyme


Lemon Thyme
 I thought I would contine on the herb theme this week and show you a few of the Thymes that I have in  the Rosebank garden.

Lemon Thyme is my favourite it is fruitier than Common Thyme and less pungent.  All Thymes prefer sun and a free-draining soil and do very well in containers of potting compost with grit added.  It goes well in chicken and fruit dishes and I also infuse it in olive oil to give extra flavour.

Golden Thyme
 Golden Thyme with its variegated leaves is less strong than Common Thyme and is very attractive to look at.
Silver Thyme
Another variation is Silver Thyme

The neat, wiry shrubs are reliably evergreen and their leaves can be picked fresh all year round.   Common Thyme used for flavouring stews, roast lamb and stuffings and Lemon Thyme goes well in fish and pork dishes.
Common Thyme
If you trim them hard back after flowering they will grow back vigorously but don't cut back into old wood  - a bit like pruning lavender.  Soft wood cuttings can easily be taken.

It's worth growing a few varieties as they look good in the garden and attract millions of bees when they are in flower.   

22 comments:

  1. I do love thyme its so good to cook with and also great for the garden to attract the much needed bees, i have 3-4 diffrent varietys i love the smell of it too, cant beat in in fresh baked bread.

    ReplyDelete
  2. An essential herb. I grow two types; the common, and a local wild Thyme which we call 'Serpolet'. It's one of those herbs, like Rosemary, where you feel better just by having a good 'sniff'.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have just potted thyme too. your varieties are great lol.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I had a thyme plant but it grew really woody and ended up looking like twigs so it went, I should really replace it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love thyme, I tend to bash it up with some garlic, lemon zest and juice,some cumin powder an some oil and smother if over a chicken before roasting it. I bought a lemon thyme recently as well (admitedly by mistake)but I really like it, it just adds a nice twang. Your herbs all look great.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great collection of thymes you have! I grow thyme too even though I don't much like the flavor. Lemon thyme is my favorite because of the wonderful scent. I'll have to try some of the others you mention.

    ReplyDelete
  7. There are lots of really attractive thymes aren't there

    ReplyDelete
  8. I adore Thyme, I have quite a few in pots. A few of mine went a bit 'woody', they're slowly coming back though. The bees and small butterflies go crazy for the flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Will move our plants just in case a million bees all visit at once! lol x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love Thyme and grow lots of different kinds, normally in pots but may put them in the flower border this year for a change. Yours look very good. Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mine have become very woody and sgraggly also,daughter got a nice cutting from it but I didn't save one for myself :(

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very nice pictures of the Tymes. I have only 1 growing in the corner of my Strawberry bed, and you are correct, they certainly attract lots of Bees.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wonderful varieties there Elaine. I think herbs are essential for the garden and I grow my dry herbs in the pea shingle in a hot and sunny part of the garden where they look both ornamental and emit a lovely fragrance as you pass by. See if you can pick up Thymas 'Fragrantissimus' - a heady orange scented Thyme - delicious! I love thyme, lavender and rosemary. I also have a really lovely lemon balm which I grow in the flower border. The fragrance on a summer evening is gorgeous.

    Jeanne
    x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow! What a great collection of thyme you have in your garden! I do have lemon thyme, and think I'll try infusing it with olive oil as you do. I enjoyed your post. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Edible, good for bees and looks good make thyme a good choice for any garden. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. You've really sold me on thyme! Your plants look great.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have all sorts of places in the garden where I can plant thyme. After reading your post, I'll be heading to the garden shed to find some containers for more thyme.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love thyme but only grow one variety at the moment - Common Thyme. I'm seriously going to look into the Lemon Thyme though and like your idea of using it with chicken.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love thyme. That's a great little collection you have. x

    ReplyDelete
  20. It's one of my essential herbs, frequently used in a variety of dishes that I cook, not just chicken. I have a broadleaf, lemon and common thyme. I'm not so keen on the paler leaved thymes and also have to consider space given over to my other herbs which seems to be a growing collection!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lovely collection of thymes Elaine. I lost all of mine (again) apart from the common one. Wish I had taken cuttings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find them quite hardy but most are in pots so I can bring them in if necessary.

      Delete

If you have enjoyed reading this post why not leave a comment - I would love to hear from you.

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...