DibbleGrowing thyme: from seed to harvest
Set out transplants in lean, well-drained soil and full sun. Thyme hates wet feet, so avoid planting at the height of the rains. A low, hardy perennial that needs little water once settled.
Planting dates for thyme by zone
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Sow or transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 4 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 5 | not needed | May 2 | July 27 |
| Zone 6 | not needed | April 24 | July 25 |
| Zone 7 | not needed | April 8 | July 5 |
| Zone 8 | not needed | March 10 | June 10 |
| Zone 9 | not needed | February 12 | April 17 |
| Zone 10 | not needed | March 12 | June 12 |
| Zone 11 | not needed | March 15 | June 14 |
Each date is the start of the best window from the same climate engine the Dibble app uses, run at typical places in each zone. Dibble tunes them to your garden's own location and lets you adjust frost dates for your own yard.
Companion plants
Good neighbors for Thyme:
Family and rotation
Thyme is in the mints family. Aromatic herbs: interplant freely; few rotation concerns. Learn about crop rotation.
Related crops
Basil
When to plantMint
When to plantRosemary
When to plantOregano
When to plantSage
When to plantLavender
When to plant
Questions
When should I plant thyme?
It depends on your zone. Thyme is a hardy crop, so the timing follows your last spring frost. Look up your zone in the table below for exact start, sow, and harvest dates, or open Dibble and set where your garden is to get your own calendar.
How long does it take to grow thyme?
About 90 days from transplant to the first harvest, with a picking window of roughly 150 days after that.
What grows well with thyme?
Good companions include Cabbage, Strawberry.
Plant at the right time this season
Dibble builds your calendar in under a minute. Free to start, no account needed.