- How do I water lemon thyme correctly?
- Does lemon thyme need to be fertilized?
- How do I cut the herb plant?
- Is lemon thyme hardy?
In the home garden, aromatic lemon thyme has long been on par with other popular herbal plants. The Mediterranean subshrub owes this steep career not only to its unique taste, but also to its frugal undemanding nature. You can find out how minimalistic the care program is structured here.
Lemon thyme fits wonderfully into the herb bed
How do I water lemon thyme correctly?
If the herbal plant thrives in the bed, the water supply is limited to watering when it is dry. As a rule, the natural rainfall covers the low demand for moisture. The substrate should only be kept slightly moist immediately after planting.
Does lemon thyme need to be fertilized?
A nutrient supply is not absolutely necessary. In sandy-poor soil, we recommend working in a 2 cm layer of compost in April and June. In pot culture, liquid herb or vegetable fertilizer is suitable (7.49€), which you administer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
How do I cut the herb plant?
Since lemon thyme thrives as a subshrub, the plant constantly strives to become woody from below. Since hardly any aromatic leaves sprout on woody shoots, stop the process with these pruning measures:
- When harvesting, cut back the subshrub to just before the woody part
- Shorten all branches by a third after flowering or just before the first frost
- In April/May, cut the plant down to a hand's breadth above the ground
To encourage dense, bushy growth, please thin out a lemon thyme thoroughly each time you cut it back.
Is lemon thyme hardy?
As garden practice has shown, thyme hybrids are only partially hardy. The green-leaved varieties can withstand temperatures down to -15 degrees Celsius for a short time. Variegated lemon thyme, on the other hand, is already beaten by milder frost. Therefore, cut back the plant by a maximum of one third in autumn and spread a thick layer of leaves or needles over it. Carry the plant in the pot to a bright, frost-free winter quarters.
tips
If you prevent lignification with regular pruning, excess clippings are far too good to be disposed of in the compost. Simply bundle the branches into small bouquets and hang them upside down to dry. It's quicker in the oven at 50 degrees circulating air or comfortably in the dehydrator.