Thyme planting and care in the open field near Moscow

Thyme (Thyme) is a plant that almost everyone has heard of. People often call it Bogorodskaya grass. This name appeared due to the fact that in the old days, on the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, icons were decorated with small flowers that have different shades: white, pink, purple and even yellow.

Thyme is widespread everywhere. Planting and leaving does not take much time and effort, so it can be found in many places. It grows in Europe and Asia. Even in some African countries, you can find this plant with beautiful small flowers and a pleasant sweet smell. China is considered the homeland of thyme.

Why is thyme so popular?

Thyme is appreciated not only for its beautiful appearance and aroma, but also for excellent medicinal properties... Thyme is used:

1. In folk medicine... A pleasantly smelling, rich thyme tea, rich in useful vitamins, active substances, is able to calm the nervous system, eliminate pain, cope with colds and many other diseases. Decoctions, infusions, essential oil are made from its leaves and flowers. Dried thyme herb is added to the pillow to help you sleep deep and healthy. In the old days, rooms were fumigated with thyme in order to get rid of microbes and harmful organisms.

2. In the perfume industry... Flowers and leaves are processed, and essential oils are added to creams, perfumes, eau de toilette, and soap.

3. In cooking... The leaves of this plant are added to food as a seasoning to give it a special taste and unique aroma. Both meat and fish dishes are seasoned with thyme. It is added to baked goods as a spice.

4. Thyme in landscape design... Sometimes thyme is also used to decorate a plot in the country.

Thyme is believed to be a wild plant native to the southern regions. But for a long time, amateur gardeners have been cultivating thyme in those corners where the summer is not so hot and long. The plant has adapted quite easily to different climates, and it feels great.

Thyme: what species are popular?

Despite the fact that there are more than 300 species of this plant, only four are grown in the garden plots. Their medicinal and decorative properties are most pronounced:

1. Marshall thyme... It is used as a remedy for eye diseases.

2. Creeping thyme... Planting and grooming will later come in handy for treating colds and coughs, for abdominal pain, and for improving digestion.

3. Thyme ordinary... This species has been specially cultivated. It is used to treat colds, colds, gastritis, pancreatitis. Thyme tea is an excellent antiseptic. This type of thyme is planted in flower beds to decorate the site.

4. Lemon thyme... The leaves are greenish-yellow in color, the plant has a pleasant lemon scent.

Feel free to choose any of them!

Growing thyme in the open field in the Moscow region

Have you decided to have thyme? Planting and maintenance will not take long, and the plant will easily adapt to any weather conditions and will feel pretty good. Nevertheless, in order for the plant to decorate the site and please the eye for many years, bloom profusely, be healthy and suitable as a seasoning and a first-aid kit in the garden, you need to take care of it, water it in a timely manner, and weed it.

How is thyme grown?

To grow thyme outdoors no extra effort is required and no special knowledge is required. Thyme perfectly tolerates the conditions of non-dry summers and snowy winters.For its rapid growth and development, abundant flowering, a lot of moisture is required, so the climate of the Moscow region creates the best conditions for it.

Thyme was bred from wild varieties, grows well on any soil, except for acidic clay rocks. This plant is not afraid of strong frosts.

Thyme will be healthy and grow quickly if planted in warm sunny places garden plot. So that the stems do not become waterlogged and rot during the off-season, the soil next to the stem is covered with drainage from small pebbles or gravel.

Thyme looks good as an element of decorative finishing of garden paths. Planted along the edges of the path, it gives it a well-groomed appearance. This plant is also suitable for rose gardens and alpine slides, it will serve as an excellent decoration for a decorative pond. And if you plant it next to the house, you can not only get aesthetic pleasure, watching its intricate inflorescences, but also inhale the aroma of flowers both in the early morning and late in the evening. You can enhance the decorative effect by planting various types of thyme on the flower beds.

How does this plant reproduce?

Thyme can be grown in three ways:

1. Planting seeds.

   • Thyme seeds are planted in early spring. This plant can be planted in late autumn. In this case, planting is done before the onset of frost to prevent the death of seeds from frost. The soil must first be prepared: dig up and loosen well, remove weeds and roots of other plants. Then add compost. Instead, you can add rotted manure and mineral fertilizers, urea, mix everything with the ground.
   • The seeds can now be sown. After planting, the seeds are covered with soil, watered, and the surface of the flower bed is additionally sprinkled with coarse sand on top. This prevents stagnation of water where seedlings will appear.
   • When the plants grow a little, the planting needs to be thinned out a little so that the seedlings are stronger, healthier and more viable.

2. Planting seedlings... Thyme seedlings can be planted in open ground. For this, the seeds are sown in a special container, covered with a film. Wait until they germinate and seedlings appear. After about a month, the grown plants are transferred to the open air so that they adapt and harden. If after 14 days the plants continue their active growth, look healthy and well-groomed, they are transplanted into open ground to a permanent place, after digging up the soil and enriching it with fertilizers and microelements.

3. Planting plants with a developed rhizome... Thyme can be purchased at the market or in the store from hobby gardeners. It should be borne in mind that when buying a rhizome with an open root system, they pay attention to the roots, stems and leaves. Only healthy plants should be purchased. In case of doubt, it is better to immediately abandon the purchase. The root must be well developed. But, even a weak root system can be improved when the roots grow, and new roots appear from the stem of the plant. The main thing is that they do not have rot and pests.

The plant should be healthy, with a strong stem and dense, shiny and elastic leaves. You do not need to purchase a slightly wilted plant. It can go away over time, or it can dry out completely.

Planting a closed-root thyme purchased from a dedicated location is straightforward. The plant must be carefully removed from the container, inspected for rot, if necessary, cleaned, straightened and planted in prepared soil. Drizzle and sprinkle with drainage around the stems.

How to choose a landing site?

It is best to plant thyme on the south side of the summer cottage, where an abundance of sunlight will be provided.

If you plant a plant in the shadow, its bush will look loose, the leaves will be small, the stems will be extended. It will be more difficult for him to accumulate the necessary concentration of nutrients and essential oils.A pleasant aroma is out of the question. The plant will simply not be able to emit a strong odor.

Thyme growing on the warm sunny side takes the form of a small dense bush. If its leaves and branches are periodically cut off, it will expand even more in width. With proper care, by the fall, Bogorodskaya grass can acquire the shape of a ball. This plant will look especially good on a flower bed and will serve as a decoration for any flower garden.

Planted in diffused shadow the thyme will not stretch up, but will spread its shoots along the ground, creating an intricate grassy carpet. It is especially beautiful when the plant blooms and becomes covered with lilac, yellow or scarlet flowers, depending on the variety of thyme. This is a mesmerizing sight. When the wind blows, a fragrant cloud rises above the Bogorodskoy grass, spreading throughout the summer cottage.

On what soil does thyme grow best?

It is important not only to think over which side the plant will be planted on, but also take care of the soil... In its natural habitat, thyme grows on rocky or sandy soils.

If the land at the summer cottage does not meet the specified characteristics, it can be improved by preparing more favorable conditions for the thyme. This plant does not let its root go very deep, so it will not take extra effort to prepare the soil. Sufficient surface treatment. The soil must be mixed with river sand, gravel, small stones. You can add a shellfish.

If you plan to plant thyme on a rocky alpine slide, the best solution would be to place it on top of it so that it is not flooded with water after watering.

Bogorodskaya grass care

Thyme care is completely easy:

1. Watering. The plant can do without watering for a long time. But in a dry summer, you still have to water it.
2. Top dressing. In the spring, the soil is fertilized with a solution of cow dung. He also needs ash, which is added to the soil, after having mixed it with the ground.
3. Rejuvenation. To make the bush look better, earth is dug out of its shoots. Shoots are placed in pits and sprinkled with fresh, enriched soil. For greater reliability, you can press them with special brackets. Over time, new roots are formed, and regrown plants can be planted in other areas.

Thyme is pruned during flowering. At this time, the concentration of essential oils in its leaves and flowers is highest. After pruning, the plants are covered with loose soil and watered.

Cut stems, flowers and leaves are dried in the shade, then packaged in canvas bags.

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Thyme, or it is also called Bogorodskaya grass, is popularly called thyme. Its varieties are found not only in Europe, but also in Southeast Asia, as well as in northern Africa. Today we will introduce you to the most common varieties of thyme, describe in detail the process of growing, planting, care in the open field, and also pay attention to how to propagate a plant.

Creeping thyme: varieties and varieties

Creeping thyme belongs to the species of low-growing dwarf shrubs. The height of the plant rarely reaches over 15 cm. It is called so because of its peculiarity to creep along the soil, forming a soft fragrant carpet. The flowers have a bright purple hue and are collected in capitate inflorescences. This type is most often used by gardeners. It is used in landscape design because it blooms continuously all summer. The most common varieties of thyme are:

• "Colchis" - has light lilac flowers and spreads low (10 cm) on the ground;

Variety "Kolkhida"

• "Donna Valley" - grows with a dense carpet, the leaves are bordered by a yellow stripe, the flowering is constant pink;
• "Silver Queen" - forms a rather high (20 cm) loose carpet, gray leaves with white edging, densely arranged inflorescences have a lavender hue.

Creeping thyme belongs to the type of thyme, among which you can also find:

1. Common thyme. A plant with a small growth of 5-10 cm. The leaves have a light down at the bottom. Flowering - white and pale lilac shade.

   Thyme ordinary

2. Lemon-scented thyme. It got its name due to its spicy aroma with subtle lemon notes, as well as the yellowish color of young leaves. The most popular varieties:

   Lemon-scented thyme

   • "Aurea" - has a bright yellow color;
   • "Bertram Anderson" - has green leaves covered with yellow spots.
3. Early thyme. It blooms earlier than others, but also fades a little faster. In our country, there are such varieties:

   Early thyme

   • "Minor" - has the slowest growth and small fluffy leaves;
   • "Pseudolanuginosus" - has sharp green leaves with excessive pubescence, blooms very profusely.

Planting a plant

Thyme is grown on light, loose soil. Sunlight has a beneficial effect on its development, therefore, planting in open ground is carried out in a well-lit place.

In order for perennial plants to take root well, the site must be carefully dug up in the fall. And add organic fertilizer (compost or manure). In the spring, when the weather is warm outside with a temperature of at least 13 ° C, the soil is dug up again and seeds are sown.

Advice! After the thyme has been sown, you can sprinkle the seeds with river sand. It will provide young shoots with additional nutrients and prevent water from stagnating on the surface.

After the seedlings sprout and grow a little, it is necessary to thin out the planting. The ideal distance between plants is 30-35 cm.

Fertilize and dig up the soil before planting thyme

In the open field, planting can also be carried out using seedlings. To do this, at the end of winter, thyme is sown in prepared trays. Watering the seedlings is carried out regularly, but not abundantly. Thyme rises under glass, which creates the effect of a greenhouse. After 3-4 weeks, the seedlings are taken out into the open air for hardening, and after another 2 weeks they are planted in a permanent place.

Thyme care

The first thing to do for the thyme after planting is to pin the tip of the stem, so the plant will form into a beautiful lush bush. Perennial crops need seasonal pruning. In autumn, when the flowering of thyme has stopped, it is necessary to shorten the bushes. In the new season, you will see how this procedure helped the plant to thicken and acquire a decorative shape.

Shape the plant as it grows to create a beautiful bush.

It is very important for thyme to regularly weed and remove weeds, which draw out most of the nutrients from the soil. Since thyme is already growing rather slowly, "unwanted neighbors" will further inhibit its growth.

Caring for the plant also means watering it, which should be done no more than twice a week in dry weather and even less often if the summer is not very hot.

Important! Cover perennials with peat or fallen leaves for the winter.

Fertilization and feeding

It is undesirable for thyme to add fresh manure to the soil. Growing thyme outdoors allows the use of wood ash. It will not only add nutrients to the soil, but also reduce acidity.

Feed perennials with mineral fertilizers

The first fertilization of thyme is carried out with urea in early spring. If this is the first year, then even before germination, and in the second and subsequent years with spring pruning.

Advice! Mineral fertilizers can be applied from the second year of life of creeping thyme.

Propagation of thyme

The propagation of varieties of creeping thyme in the open field is carried out in three ways:

1. Seeds. The planting material is harvested in the fall and dried until spring. Then sow and cover with foil.Planting seeds in the fall is also allowed.

   Pattern: thyme bush

2. Cuttings. This method is convenient because the seedlings are already strong. Cuttings are selected for spring or autumn pruning. For planting, take the strongest of all. It is they who will subsequently form a new bush.
3. By dividing the bush. A very painful method for the plant. When carrying out such a reproduction of thyme, the entire bush is dug up and divided in half. Special care is required. It is very important not to damage the root system, otherwise the plant may get sick or even die.

Diseases and pests

Creeping thyme is very resistant to attacks of pathogenic bacteria and pests. Planting and caring for him is not difficult. It is unpretentious, but its only drawback is its slow growth.

The main pests of the Bogorodskaya grass are:

• weevil;
• meadow moth;
• aphid;
• sandy slow.

Sandy beetle

Thyme can also be affected by some fungal diseases. This is due to a violation of the cultivation technique. Excessive watering, rare weeding, shading of the plant lead to the spread of fungi on it.

Deep plowing, regular loosening of the root section of the soil, and timely weeding will save you from insect pests. Pests can also be removed by applying a fertilizer containing lime or other alkaline fertilizers.

Creeping thyme: combination with other plants

Thyme looks great in group or joint plantings. It can be used as a background for plants with large textured leaves. They often play on the contrast of colors in combination with geycher.

Thyme in landscape design

Thyme creeping with its powerful aroma attracts a large number of butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects. Therefore, it can be planted next to cucumber beds. Flying to the smell of thyme, the bees will help pollinate the rest of the vegetable crops.

Thyme or Bogorodskaya herb is the main component in the composition of bouquets made for the feast of the Holy Trinity. Such bundles also include wormwood, mint and lovage. Since ancient times, it was believed that the combination of their aromas would drive away all evil spirits from the dwelling.

Thyme creeping in landscape design

Being a low semi-shrub spreading along the ground, in landscape design, thyme is used as a background for alpine slides and mixboards. But he can act there and in the lead role. Looks very good on scree.

Rockery decoration with thyme

Growing creeping thyme will be a lot of fun for you. You can enjoy not only the beautiful appearance of the fluffy pillow bushes, but also its wonderful spicy scent. And what bright and rich photos are obtained against the background of thyme - just a feast for the eyes.

Growing thyme: video

Varieties of thyme: photo

Thyme is a perennial ground cover shrub that can be found on rocky slopes, meadows and forest edges. The fragrant, flowering plant has long attracted gardeners in Europe, Asia and North Africa. Its decorative appearance, long flowering and low maintenance requirements made it a frequent visitor to flower beds, alpine slides and rose gardens.

Thyme is valued not only for its decorative qualities. Its shoots contain essential oils, flavonoids, organic acids and vitamins. Due to its composition, it is actively used in cooking, medicine and perfumery.

It is not difficult to grow thyme in a dacha in the suburbs, even with minimal care.

Description and useful properties

Thyme is the popular name for creeping thyme. This perennial plant reaches 20-30 cm in height. The stems of the shrub are thin, spread over the surface of the earth, forming a dense carpet of fragrant greenery with numerous inflorescences.Depending on the variety, the flowers of thyme can be light pink, lilac or deep lilac color. Creeping thyme blooms throughout the summer. The fruits of the shrub resemble small bolls.

The unique composition of the leaves of the plant allows you to use it in several directions at once:

1. In cooking. Thyme seeds are used as a spicy condiment. Young greens perfectly complement the taste of fish and meat dishes, are a part of various sauces.
2. In perfumery. The essential oils contained in the leaves and flowers of thyme are widely used in the creation of perfumery and cosmetic products.
3. In medicine. Thyme is known for its medicinal properties. It is an excellent antiseptic, has an expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect. Used as a sedative and diaphoretic. It also contains tannins and organic acids.

Features of growing in the suburbs

The shrub is appreciated for the fact that it combines the properties of a beautifully flowering ground cover, fragrant spicy greenery and decorative decoration of portable flowerpots and pots. Features and methods of growing thyme in the Moscow region depend on what goals the gardener pursues:

• On the windowsill. This method of growing allows for a fresh spice on the table all year round. Thyme is grown on the southern windowsills, pinching the inflorescences, in order to form as much green growth as possible, which is used in cooking.
• In containers and bowls. Some varieties of thyme are capable of forming thick, brightly colored inflorescences. Neat, bright bushes of the plant serve as an excellent decoration for portable flower beds.
• Outdoors. The most common way to grow thyme. As a ground cover shrub, it is used to create mixborders, solo or serves as a bright background on alpine slides, spreads along the paths.

Reproduction methods

Most actively, creeping thyme reproduces on its own. The creeping stems of the plant have the ability to quickly root, which allows the shrub to spread more and more throughout the site every year. Because of this feature, gardeners artificially limit its growth in organized flower beds. In the case when it is necessary to artificially propagate thyme, resort to the following methods:

Seed propagation

You need to plant seeds 70 days before the soil on the site warms up above 15 degrees. In early or mid-March, planting material is sown in containers with moistened soil (a mixture of equal proportions of peat and sand). Small seeds are lightly sprinkled with soil, covered with foil and placed in a warm place until shoots appear. This takes 1.5 to 2 weeks.

When the first shoots hatch, the container is transferred to a bright place. As the seedlings grow, it is necessary to thin out the shoots and monitor the moisture of the earth. At the age of 70 days, the seedlings are ready for transplanting.

Propagation by cuttings

Creeping thyme is easily propagated by cuttings. To do this, select strong, developed shoots that have reached a length of 10-12 cm. There should be no inflorescences on the trunks. They are carefully trimmed with a sharp secateurs and placed in river sand. Having previously moistened the soil from a spray bottle, the cuttings are covered with a film. Within 2 weeks, the formation of roots occurs and the plant can be planted in a permanent place. In the process of rooting, it is necessary to weed the soil from weeds and prevent waterlogging of the soil.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

An adult thyme bush is dug out of the ground and part of the plant, along with the roots, is separated. Division should be carried out with caution, trying to minimize damage to the small processes of the roots. For better survival, you can treat the root system with Kornevin. This must be done strictly according to the instructions.The separated part of the shrub is planted in the ground under a special coating or a glass jar.

Features of growing in the open field

Thyme can be safely attributed to unpretentious and easy-to-grow perennial plants. Requirements for conditions are minimal. Any gardener can grow a shrub. And yet it is worth adhering to certain landing rules.

The place where the culture will grow should be well lit. In the shade, the shoots of the plant will lose their decorative effect, stretch out and bloom poorly.

The soil for creeping thyme should be moisture permeable, have a neutral level of acidity, be light and moderately fertile. Shrub grows well on sandy loam and sandy soil.

The optimal distance between thyme bushes is 30-35 cm. Young seedlings need timely thinning.

It easily tolerates drought, therefore it does not need additional watering. The danger is an excess and stagnation of moisture, since this damages the root system of the plant.

Frost resistant. On the territory of the Moscow region, you can leave for the winter without additional shelter.

Care

To provide the culture with the most comfortable growing conditions, it is recommended to pay attention to soil preparation, watering, feeding and pruning of perennials.

In autumn, the place where the planting of thyme is planned is carefully dug up to a depth of 20-30 cm. They are freed from weeds and remnants of old roots. If the soil is oily, heavy, then it is necessary to dilute its composition with river sand and peat. Thyme responds well to the introduction of wood ash into the soil, it helps to maintain the desired level of acidity and prevents the development of root diseases.

Watering thyme is only necessary during periods of prolonged drought or heat. Usually he has enough moisture obtained naturally. Additional watering can be provided during the active growing season, but this should be done carefully, not allowing moisture to linger in the roots.

Experienced gardeners mulch the soil around the shrub. Fine gravel, straw, compost or coarse river sand are suitable for these purposes. Mulching will help control weeds and reduce the labor costs of caring for thyme.

Pruning of a perennial plant is carried out to give it a decorative look. It is recommended to subject the bushes to this procedure twice a year. In the spring, the stems are shortened by two-thirds, leaving the lignified part. Young shoots will grow a neat, dense hat. In autumn, old, damaged stems are cut off, faded shoots are removed. A sharp secateurs are used.

Diseases and pests

Subject to the basic rules of agricultural technology, creeping thyme is highly resistant to diseases and pests. Essential oils repel most insects. In rare cases, it is affected:

• weevil;
• sandy slow;
• meadow moth;
• aphids.

To combat these pests, use the treatment of the shrub with an insecticide solution. As a preventive measure, you can use various insect traps.

Among the possible diseases of thyme, fungal diseases can be distinguished. Their appearance is promoted by stagnant moisture in the soil, prolonged rains. Proper watering and periodic loosening of the soil around the plant will avoid these problems.

Harvesting and storage

For further use and storage, leaves, flowers and stems of thyme are used. Harvesting is carried out in the summer months during the period of active flowering. Young green shoots give a special flavor to various dishes. They are cut from the garden and used fresh.

For medicinal purposes, the shoots of the plant are harvested by drying them on paper, evenly distributing them over the surface. Before drying, the stems must not be washed under water, this can lead to decay.

Dry shoots of thyme are suitable for the preparation of medicinal decoctions, aromatic sachets are made from them, and added to food as a spicy seasoning.

It is quite simple to grow this unpretentious shrub in a summer cottage. Under favorable conditions, you can enjoy its flowering throughout the summer months without much effort. That is why thyme is appreciated not only by gardeners, but also by landscape designers. In addition to its spectacular appearance, it has many beneficial properties.