- At this point, the aroma is at its zenith
- Harvest lemon thyme with a sense of proportion - this is how it works
With its wonderful aroma, lemon thyme refines Mediterranean dishes, spices up meat dishes, vegetable stews and crunchy salads. The herbal plant performs this culinary masterpiece fresh and dried with flying colors. Read here how to skilfully harvest lemon thyme.
Lemon thyme is best harvested before flowering
At this point, the aroma is at its zenith
In order to harvest lemon thyme at the best possible time, the current growth phase in general and the time of day in particular play a decisive role. If you heed the following premises, you will get a premium quality herbal harvest:
- The best time to harvest is on the days before flowering begins
- The ideal time is in the morning hours when the dew has evaporated
Before the blossoms on the lemon thyme open, a lovingly tended plant sprays with vitality right down to the tips of the shoots. The aromatic leaves benefit from this. As soon as flowering is in full swing, the aroma content in the plant drops significantly and takes on a slightly bitter taste.
Harvest lemon thyme with a sense of proportion - this is how it works
No herb will thank you if you haphazardly snipping at it. As a Mediterranean subshrub, a lemon thyme is no exception in this regard. If you combine the harvest with a maintenance and shape cut, this prudence contributes to a long lifespan. How to do it right:
- Cut the shoots so that a piece of green tissue remains
- Harvest the entire herb bush all around, if necessary beyond the current need
Harvest a lemon thyme regularly and at the same time effectively prevent balding from the inside out. With each harvest, please keep an eye out for dried shoots to prune them at the base.
Conserve harvest surplus - this is how it works in the air
Do you hold more sprigs of thyme in your hands after the harvest than the kitchen can currently process? Then tie the shoots together into small bouquets. Hanging upside down in an airy, rain-protected place, the herbs dry within 8 to 14 days. In contrast to other types of herbs, dried lemon thyme tastes more intense than fresh produce.
tips
The diverse types of thyme not only ennoble food and drinks. Thanks to its valuable ingredients, Thymus vulgaris was named medicinal plant of the year in 2006. Prepared as a tea, lemon thyme relieves cold or digestive problems and strengthens the immune system.