Garden thyme, fresh or dried, alone or combined with parsley and bay leaves to make a bouquet garni, adds a distinctive aromatic flavouring to meats, poultry, stews, sauces, and stuffing. Thymus vulgaris, commonly known as cooking thyme, English thyme, French thyme, or winter thyme is just one of the 350 species of the genus Thymus. Often called the 'herb of courage,' garden thyme can be grown indoors or out. Thyme is a shrubby perennial with small, oval, narrow, grey-green leaves, long, woody, branched stems, and sturdy roots. This plant blooms in mid-summer and has lavender-pink flowers that occur in small clusters. The flowers attract bees and the honey produced is highly valued. The leaves are very aromatic. Leaves, stems, and flowers may all be eaten.
Garden thyme grows 6 ? 20 inches (15 ? 50 cm) tall, prefers light, well-drained soil, and full sun. Allow soil to dry between waterings, as this plant is susceptible to root rot and will not survive long in heavy wet soils. Thyme can be propagated by stem cuttings, seeds, and layering.
Pot outdoor plants for bringing indoors in the fall. Check for insects and spray with a soap and water spray if required. Indoor plants require at least 5 hours of strong sunlight a day. If placed on a windowsill, turn plants frequently to ensure all sides receive equal exposure to the light. If growing under fluorescents, hang lights 6 inches (15 cm) above the plants and leave on for 14 hours a day.
In the garden, plant thyme anywhere as it deters cabbageworm and accents the aromatic qualities of other plants and herbs. In the kitchen, thyme is often used in sausage and other fatty foods such as lamb, pork, duck, or goose as it aids in the digestive process. Generally speaking, in the kitchen, dried thyme is used, as it is preferred for cooking. This herb enhances the flavour of tomato sauces, casseroles, soup, spaghetti sauce, eggs, potatoes, fish, green vegetables, chowders, seafood of all kinds, breads, roasted meats, marinades for meats, plain rice, and tea.
Thyme is especially good in recipes that call for long, slow cooking as it is one of the few herbs that does not lose flavour in cooking, so can be added early. Sprigs can be placed in the water of steamed or boiled vegetables, or used to make thyme-scented vinegar or oil. Fresh leaves and flowers can be used in tossed green salads, and use the leaves, fresh or dried, for butter and cooking oil. Strip the leaves from stems when using fresh. Chopped fresh leaves are much more pungent than dried so use sparingly if substituting for dried in a recipe. The dried flowers and/or leaves are often combined with rosemary and spearmint to make an aromatic tea said to be useful for calming the nerves and soothing headaches.
Thyme can be preserved by freezing or drying. To dry, lay the stems of thyme flat or hang them in bunches in a shady, dry location. Strip the dry leaves from the stems and store in an airtight container. To freeze, lie on a cookie pan, freeze, store in airtight freezer bags, and use as required.
Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace ? Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Products. She owns the website Gwen's Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca
Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 ? 2005. All rights reserved.
Today there are sprays, scented candles, plug-ins, and even discs... Read More
More and more people are enjoying their time spent outdoors... Read More
The Basics of Hydroponics Gardening.What is hydroponics gardening?Derived from the... Read More
How often you mow your lawn will depend on a... Read More
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for centuries for both... Read More
Here are a few tips to keep your garden and... Read More
Iris flowers always bring memories of mom to mind. Let... Read More
HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPEWe love hummingbirds and love to watch them... Read More
Is your garden soil great? Does it produce an abundant... Read More
For best health, it is important to keep your environment... Read More
Can't get away for a southern vacation this year? Don't... Read More
What's a perennial garden plant that blooms in the winter?... Read More
Gardening is one of life's pleasures whether you grow flowers,... Read More
Whether we know it or not, most of us are... Read More
A water garden is the area of your landscape that... Read More
What is nicer that a lovely backyard garden pond. The... Read More
Adirondack chairs were invented during the early 1900's by a... Read More
Principles refer to standards or prescriptions for working with or... Read More
The arrival of summer heralds a time of increased wear... Read More
Home and garden accessories make the difference between house and... Read More
Can't wait to get back to the garden? Use this... Read More
If your fish hang out at the bottom of the... Read More
Buying discount patio furniture is an economical way to obtain... Read More
Like many Americans, you may find bird watching to be... Read More
Butterfly gardening is not only a joy, it is one... Read More
Don't force yourself out of the most profitable hobby in... Read More
Nothing invites one to sit and enjoy a lovingly created... Read More
Teak has many qualities that make the indoor and outdoor... Read More
Planting wild flowers in your garden, or simply scattering wild... Read More
While traveling the US and occasionally taking the back highways... Read More
Bird watching brings enjoyment to many people. Selecting and correct... Read More
"I am a sundial, and I make a botch Of... Read More
Hi Friends;This is the second year in a row I... Read More
The areas of your landscape can be divided into several... Read More
Quality Dutch tulip bulbs are easy to come by and... Read More
Do you wish you could grow a sustainable vegetable garden?... Read More
Landscape wallpaper can be a great addition to your computer's... Read More
This is more of a follow up on my original... Read More
Tropical flowers make an exciting change from the more traditional... Read More
The location of your pond should be decided. You've picked... Read More
The easiest way to build a shed in the backyard... Read More
Naturalized bulbs look beautiful in a wooded setting. You can... Read More
Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly called rosemary is an aromatic herb indigenous... Read More
The no dig garden is exactly what it describes...a fertile... Read More
HOOEEEHas summer come in with a bang!Heat waves everywhere.And where... Read More
Mole control is one of the most complicated problems that... Read More
You have spent hours of time and quite a lot... Read More
Do pests 'gopher' your lawn? Chances are, if you have... Read More
Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a... Read More
In Orchid Care The Flower Will Tell You About Some... Read More
Gardening is one of life's pleasures whether you grow flowers,... Read More
So you want to grow roses? They are a beautiful... Read More
We all know one disadvantage of flowers is that they... Read More
Visualize watching a bright green hummingbird in your garden moving... Read More
Here are some of the popular orchid myths#1 Orchids are... Read More
When most people think of landscaping, they think of a... Read More
Anyone with a lawn, no matter how small will at... Read More
After much searching and deliberation, I finally bought a lawnmower... Read More
Hydroponics gardening is a great idea for anyone who wants... Read More
Viburnums are related to the honeysuckles, so it should come... Read More
Flower gardens are for enjoyment. They provide you with visual... Read More
In an effort to introduce a shaft of sunlight into... Read More
Proper pruning of your backyard grapevines is essential to maintain... Read More
In all likelihood you have heard of teak furniture and... Read More
If you are like most of us, there are two... Read More
If you look closely at the natural landscape, you'll never... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |