When to Plant: Plant outdoors after last danger of frost has passed or plant in a container that can be kept indoors or moved in and out. Thyme is a perennial in SC Kansas.

To find your average last frost click here.

Light: Full Sun

Soil: Well-drained soil is key! Because thyme is a semi-woody perennial that is native to Mediterranean climates, it does not tolerate wet feet. If planting in a container, use general-purpose potting mix.

Provide moisture when the top 2-3” of soil/mix is dry. Time between watering cycles is determined by your soil type and climate. Allow healthy dry down cycles between watering and try to avoid watering overhead to prevent a wet plant crown (center growing point of plant).

If planted in a container, try a slow-release fertilizer for easy care, following the recommended bottle rates. Some potting mixes already incorporate slow-release fertilizer that lasts up to 6 months.

Since thyme is perennial, you may consider boosting with fertilizer once in spring and in fall.

Thyme is a beautiful fresh herb to include in drinks and dishes, but it also dries well! Consider drying bunches of thyme for later use.

1. Harvest stems back to the base of the plant.

2. Strip the bottom 2” of leaves to remove them, and use a rubber band to secure a bunch of 10-12 stems.

3. Dry upside down on a hook for 2-4 weeks.

4. Strip leaves from stems and store in an air tight container until next growing season!

Thyme is a perennial I would consider “short-lived” in SC Kansas. While it does come back year to year, some thyme species don’t cope well with our cool (and sometimes wet) winters. You may have to replace your in-ground plants every 3-5 years.