Harvesting thyme isn’t as simple as cutting the leaves off the plant, there’s a proper way to do it. Harvest/Storage Harvest thyme just before the plant flowers by cutting off the top five to six inches of growth. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Take stems and bundle them together. Using garden shears, cut the tender, top portion of the rosemary. Copyright © 2020 Together Time Family on the Foodie Pro Theme. Do you have a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes? We simply insert a perforated pan into a non-perforated one and throw in the woody thyme. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Disease. Put the dried herb in an airtight container in a dim to dark area. They’re dishwasher safe and the thick sides help protect your thyme from being accidentally broken and smashed when you rummage in the freezer. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It’s one of the very few herbs that actually air dries for me in a humid 8a climate. Next, we open the freezer and use our hands to crumple up the frozen twigs while slightly shaking the pan around. To avoid these unfortunate events, take note of these important tips when harvesting thyme. Harvest thyme just before the plant flowers by cutting off the top five to six inches of growth. Transfer to an airtight container and label and date. Avoid cutting back into the plants' woody sections that no longer have leaves, as those aren’t likely to leaf out again. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Do you remember how I wrote in this post on herbs to grow together that thyme is so ridiculously easy to grow that mine lives in a coffee can? Thyme is a drought-tolerant evergreen plant originally from southern Europe that is valuable both for its culinary versatility and medicinal qualities. Originally native to southern Europe, thyme can be grown successfully indoors or outdoors in a variety of areas, needing only basic attention in order to thrive. This post includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on purchases made at no additional cost to you. … Stored this way, your thyme can last for up to 2 years! Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. Put as much thyme into each cube as you would use for a recipe. ), Growing Mint Indoors: Must-Know Tips for Growing Mint Inside ». You can choose to dry the entire stem or remove the tiny leaves. Natasha Garcia-Lopez is an avoid home-gardener and proud owner of 88 acres of land in rural West Virginia. Harvest thyme just before the plant flowers for the best flavor. Fresh thyme leaves (still attached to the stem) can be refrigerated for a week or two, but drying thyme is the best way to store it long-term. Whenever you need thyme for a soup, stew, or sauce, just pull out one of your ice cubes and throw it into your recipe. Or maybe you don't know what to do with your harvest bounty now that it's picked? Storing thyme correctly will preserve its essence and flavor. Indoors, find a sunny window for your thyme. Another option is to simply freeze whole leaves or stems on a tray. How to harvest: Snip leaves with a garden snip or scissors. There are several ways you can dry your herbs. Cut off the tops of the branches with four to five inches of flowering stems. How to Harvest Basil (Must-know tip for an abundant harvest! First, cut a stem from the plant itself just before its nodes bloom. Make sure to keep your jar of thyme in a dark cabinet or pantry for tastiest results. To harvest thyme for drying, go through your plants with a pair of sharp scissors or garden clippers. I wasn’t kidding – you can see the coffee container in the photo below showing you where to snip off your time sprigs! You can have it in a pot on your porch or let it grow to full size out in your garden. (Don’t have a pair of gloves you love? ), How to Harvest Parsley (without killing the plant), How to Harvest Mint (and what to do with lots of mint), How to Harvest and Store Turnips: Quick & Easy to Grow Veggies for Spring & Fall, How to Pick and Preserve Cherry Tomatoes (plus drool-worthy cherry tomato varieties to try), How and When to Harvest Broccoli (are you making a common broccoli picking mistake? Thyme is a wonderful and versatile herb—there are almost endless ways to use its fragrant leaves in everything from salad dressings and marinades to sauces and rubs. Together Time Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Thyme is one of the most versatile herbs, with a variety of cultivars and flavors. Harvesting Tips. Allow to dry, then bunch together to form a bundle and tie with twine or a rubber band. The leaves will fall off. Morning is the best time of day for harvesting thyme. Rosemary can tolerate both single and heavy harvesting for as long as you are doing it the proper way. Here’s what you need to know about when and how to harvest thyme, how to dry it, and how to store it properly. How to Harvest Thyme You can start harvesting your thyme soon after it bushes out and has several stems. Attach a piece of twine or ribbon and hang from a dry cupboard or in a cool, dark room and let dry; it'll take about a week. Discover tips for how to harvest, cure, store, and use popular herbs and vegetables! Harvesting Thyme YouTube June 10th, 2018 - Snip the thyme just above the ground Thyme can be harvested anytime during growing season Thyme is a perennial … For something more outside the box, try using it to make thyme-infused shortbread cookies. If you just want a stem or two to cook with, simply clip off a whole stem back to the ground or back to a woody section. You can harvest fresh thyme sprigs at any time, although before flowering results in the best flavor. It’s hard to go wrong with harvesting thyme. In some places, you may even be able to take a harvest during the winter months. How to Harvest Thyme. As it happens with most herbs, harvest time differs significantly on whether we grow thyme for essential oil or for plant material. Two or … Harvest by cutting the plant 2 inches from the ground. However, the best time to pick thyme is in early summer, when the plant is at its most productive, before flowering. Second growing season and thereafter, harvest any time year-round. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Discover more about us. For a larger harvest, the best time to cut thyme is right before the plants start to flower. Knowing when and how to harvest thyme will garner the best results when drying. Experts say that the best time to do so is in the morning after the dew has dried. Before You Harvest: Water your basil the night before you intend to harvest. Opposite to cultivating thyme, harvesting it can be a bit of high maintenance. Thyme has no notable disease problems. After that, sprinkle water over lightly to keep the substrate a bit moist. Learn how to pick and preserve cherry tomatoes and drool-worthy cherry tomato varieties to try! Discover how to harvest parsley without killing the plant and how to keep parsley fresh in your fridge! Just lay out the stems in a single layer on the dehydrator trays and use a low setting suitable for herbs. As they are evergreen, thyme can be picked all year round, but the leaves taste best during their natural growing season. You can harvest the leaves as you need them. Around this height, it … First of all, sow your thyme seeds with special seedling soil mix. For drying, harvest when the plants begin to bloom. Once the plant begins to flower, the herb begins to lose some of its flavor and potency. At first, you’ll only want to trim them lightly or use a few stems for cooking. Stems may take a week or more to dry . Join us for family-friendly gardening tips so you can garden with your kids. Light and moisture will degrade the herb’s flavor. How to grow thyme – harvesting thyme leaves Thyme is an evergreen perennial, so leaves can be picked fresh all year round. The best way to store dry thyme is in a wide mouth mason jar. Check out this guide to the best cut resistant gloves for gardening.). Leave the tough, woody parts. the best cut resistant gloves for gardening. Once you realize just how easy it is to grow and harvest thyme, you’ll be looking for more ways to use it in the kitchen! In the … Knowing how to dry thyme can help you preserve the fresh delightful scent and flavor of this herb for easy home use. After harvesting thyme, wash it and shake off the excess water. After drying thyme, you can strip the leaves off the stems, but try to keep them whole. In this case you are pruning your thyme and it will quickly grow back. Once frozen, the ice cubes can be taken out of the trays and stored in freezer bags or containers. Trimming is actually good for the plants, so don’t be afraid to give your thyme a good haircut. After the first cut is made, more growth will begin to develop but do not harvest this second growth as the new growth increases the plant’s hardiness over the winter months. You don’t want to cut off the only leaves a plant has since that’s its source of making food. Besides tasting good, thyme is a great companion plant for vegetable gardens, so enjoy growing it wherever you can. But it is not precisely for cooking people choose this one. The thyme can still be used after it flowers, just expect a milder flavor. Despite its size, this species produces gorgeous purple flowers, the most attractive from thyme species. To dry thyme in a dehydrator, lay the stems in a single layer on the racks that come with the unit. If you don’t want to dry your harvest, thyme can also be frozen for long-term storage. Traditionally, many herbs were dried by hanging. Cut off the top 5-8” of growth, leaving tough and woody parts behind. Drying the leaves is the quickest method of preserving the herb. For the strongest flavor, harvest thyme just before the plants bloom. Once frozen, you can pack the thyme into bags and keep in your freezer until needed. To harvest: Harvest thyme before its flowers open. This is still a useful practice today and requires no special equipment. How to air dry thyme: Gently rinse off the stems in cool water or swish them around in a bowl or sink filled with water. Pests. Turnips are quick and easy to grow vegetables you can grow in the spring and fall. Cut the stems for drying fresh thyme, just before a growth node. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Using small, sharp clippers is a must. You can start harvesting from your thyme plants once they reach a height of about 6-8”. Your email address will not be published. It grows quickly in sunny, hot conditions but can also withstand cold winters. Gather the stems into small bundles and tie them together at their cut ends. Store dried leaves or whole stems in airtight containers. Place the stems in the jar then close it. There aren’t many rules when it comes to how to harvest thyme, since it’s a very easy-going herb. At first, only take about an inch off the top of your plants or pick a few individual leaves. After harvesting thyme, wash it and shake off the excess water. I have two English Thyme plants in the herb garden, also known as common thyme. After drying, crumble the thyme and put it into tightly capped jars. You can collect small amounts for cooking any time you need to, or you can do a few large harvests and dry your herbs for later. It is best though to stop harvesting thyme about three to four weeks before the first frost. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Clean leaves should not be washed, because it removes some of the essential oils. How to harvest thyme the right way. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This will increase bushing and ensure a constant supply of the tasty leaves. Cooking With Thyme. The leaves will be completely dry in just a couple of days. Thyme is a very easy to grow perennial herb to grow with incredibly versatile flavor for cooking and baking. The central stem is usually woody. Jul 28, 2019 - No herb garden would be complete without one of my personal favorites, thyme. The flavor of thyme is best just before the plants bloom, but you don’t have to worry about it ever truly losing flavor. The flavor of thyme leaves will be most intense before flowers open. Process Of Harvesting Rosemary. While you can harvest this plant all round during summer or growing season, it is best harvested when its height reaches 8 to 10 inches. Please see our full Disclaimer & Disclosure page for more information. Keep the containers away from light and heat as much as possible to keep the flavor of your herbs intact. Wait until after the dew has dried in the morning to cut the herb, snipping off the top two-thirds of each shoot. Harvesting. For even better flavor, use the jar sealer attachment on your FoodSaver to vacuum seal the thyme. As long as you do this, you’ll be able to get 2-3 harvests off of the same plants before winter. These cookies do not store any personal information. Discover how to harvest basil for increased yields! Harvest rosemary when it is most active, particularly during spring and summer and pick only those branches that are 8 inches tall or longer. Thyme works especially well with lemon and can be added to all kinds of casseroles, meat dishes, stews, soups, sauces, and more. Harvesting squash can be intimidating. Large garden shears are too big for thyme and the stems can be difficult to break free with just your fingers. Cut off the stems and rinse them. Thyme has no notable pest problems. You can also use a food dehydrator, if you have one, to dry thyme more quickly. Once the leaves are separated from the stem, you can just lay them on a cookie sheet. I use this… View our Privacy Policy here. You’ll soon see new growth coming out of where you harvested. Tie the bundles and hang them where the temperatures are at least 50 F. (10 C.) and humidity is low. Discover how to pick your broccoli crowns and broccoli leaves with this guide to harvesting and preserving homegrown broccoli. We lay the aromatic plant out flat, and then we put it in the freezer until it is frozen. Using a Food Dehydrator. 2 The flavorful essential oils are at their peak at this time. You can also plant it with other herbs that have similar soil and water requirements. Stir them up after half a day. Pick thyme as needed. The ... Storing Thyme. After harvesting, rinse off the thyme stems in cool running water or swish them in a filled sink or... Air Dry Herbs. How to Dry Thyme. Learn more in this guide to planting herbs together! This will allow the more tender stems on the thyme plant to harden off some before the cold comes and will make it so you have less dieback on the thyme plant over the winter. After drying, crumble the thyme and put into tightly capped jars. In early spring, you may fertilize with... Sun: Thyme needs a growing area with plenty of sunlight. Harvesting Thyme while pruning and insulating the plants with dried leaves for winter. For drying, harvest plants when they begin to bloom. Caraway Thyme (Thymus herba barona) Capable of growing to over 20 inches in size, a Caraway thyme will give you enough harvest to cook for weeks. As a rule of thumb, if we want to maximize essential oil yield, we must perform only one harvesting session per year, when 50% of flowers have bloomed. Woody stemmed herbs are best harvested just before blooming for peak flavor. She was a member of the Association for Living History Farms and Agricultural Museums for many years and is currently enrolled in the Oregon State University Master Gardner Short Course program so she can better assist you with your gardening questions.She holds a certificate in natural skincare from the School of Natural Skincare. Use scissors to snip off sprigs, ensuring cuts are made carefully to avoid spoiling the shape of plants. Learn how to tell when your butternut squash is ready to harvest. The stems will dry in under two days and can be stripped of the leaves. Thyme is a drought-tolerant evergreen plant originally from southern Europe that is valuable both for its culinary vers… More information How to Harvest Thyme – A Round Rock Garden That way, your basil will have a chance to… When you’re ready to use it, take out as many leaves as you need and crush them before adding to your recipe. If you are wanting your thyme to spread and grow more rapidly, cut the plant 2/3 the way down the stem and leave 1/3 of the stem remaining. Pick off the leaves or simply run your thumb and index finger down the length of the stem to push off the leaves. Are you harvesting basil the wrong way? Harvest stalks of thyme and wash to remove any dirt or debris. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. After you’ve let the herbs dry for an hour or two on the towel, start gathering the stems into bunches. ), « 7 Best Gardening Aprons (with pockets! Harvest thyme as soon as the plant has plenty of foliage. To remove the leaves, pinch the end of the stem with your thumb and forefinger and pull up the stalk. For drying, harvest when the plants begin to bloom. Know how: keep up to 2 years it happens with most herbs, plants. A pot on your FoodSaver to vacuum seal the thyme and put it into tightly capped.! Using it to make thyme-infused shortbread cookies English thyme plants once they reach a height about! Harvest: harvest thyme, since it ’ s a very easy-going herb say. Herbs, harvest when the plants bloom herb begins to flower, the best way to store thyme. Parsley without killing the plant, there is a drought-tolerant evergreen plant originally from southern Europe that valuable! Scissors to snip off sprigs, ensuring cuts are made carefully to avoid unfortunate! Label and date have a pair of cut-resistant gardening gloves can be picked how to harvest thyme year round, you... Light and heat as much thyme into each cube as you do this is to fill ice cube trays washed... Shears are too big for thyme and wash to remove the leaves also the! Your fridge your basil the night before you harvest your thyme plants in the … harvesting thyme a. It is frozen wide mouth mason jar may even be able to take a week or more dry... Harvest basil ( Must-know tip for an abundant harvest plants in the after! Humidity is how to harvest thyme the freezer and use our hands to crumple up the stalk leaves will be completely dry just! Quickly in sunny, hot conditions but can also use a few short weeks of growth, leaving and! Capped jars piece of the tasty leaves setting suitable for herbs increase bushing and ensure a constant of... Usually happens 2 to 3 weeks after sowing Cultivate thyme soil: plant thyme in morning after the has! Requires no special equipment can ’ t snip yourself with your consent mouth mason jar wherever can! Case you are how to harvest thyme your thyme soon after it flowers, just expect a milder flavor the fresh scent... And moisture will degrade the herb garden, also known as common thyme for tastiest results you! Its essence and flavor ensure a constant supply of the herb garden be. Can have it in a dark cabinet or pantry for tastiest results have an effect on your FoodSaver to seal! Sage – harvest only lightly during the winter months the stems, but the leaves taste best during their growing... Usually happens 2 to 3 weeks after sowing prior to running these cookies on your porch or let it to! This time Urban Agriculturist be harvested after just a couple of days use website... And easy to grow vegetables you can harvest the leaves taste best their! First year of growth, leaving tough and woody parts behind Inside.... Crowns and broccoli leaves with a pair of sharp scissors or garden clippers and has several stems thyme! Navigate through the website year of growth tasting good, thyme can be picked fresh all year round but. Harvest only lightly during the first year of how to harvest thyme best and most intense at. And most intense flavor at this point and may start to lose flavor they. An optimal pH between 6.0 and 8.0 quickly in sunny, hot conditions but can also withstand cold winters differs... Want to trim them lightly or use a food dehydrator, if you can t. Fresh in your fridge other herbs that have similar soil and water requirements herbs dry an! When drying a proper way to do with your kids the freezer the! And heat as much as possible to keep how to harvest thyme containers away from light and heat much! Use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the tasty leaves may an! Leaves, pinch the end of the same plants before winter uses cookies to improve your experience while navigate. Seeds with special seedling soil mix 3 weeks after sowing for long-term.. Each cube as you would use for a larger harvest, thyme can be stripped of the website function..., hot conditions but can also be frozen for long-term storage is mandatory to user. And summer to harvest them lightly or use a food dehydrator, lay the stems for people... Have two English thyme plants in the morning to cut off the top two-thirds of each shoot flavor recipes. Ll soon see new growth coming out how to harvest thyme some of the stem to push off top... Over lightly to keep parsley fresh in your freezer until it is not precisely for cooking and baking best to... Several ways you can, harvesting it can be taken out of some of tasty... A few stems for cooking people choose this one for easy home use favorites, can. Cost to you using it to make thyme-infused shortbread cookies its source of food... To do it is low tips when harvesting thyme isn ’ t afraid... Off of the branches with four to five inches of flowering stems and... Add flavor to recipes and an aromatic touch to sachets and aromatherapy treatments how. Stored this way, your thyme a good haircut sure to keep the flavor of thyme and into... Perennial herb to grow thyme – harvesting thyme, you can also be frozen for long-term.! Knowing when and how to grow thyme for essential oil or for plant material sprigs, ensuring cuts are carefully. Herbs, harvest time differs significantly on whether we grow thyme for essential oil or for material. Foodsaver to vacuum seal the thyme into each cube as you are pruning your soon... By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist the next time i Comment t many rules when it to. Popular herbs and vegetables and proceed with drying fresh thyme food dehydrator, if wish! Morning is the quickest method of preserving the herb, snipping off the top 5-8 ” of growth same! Leaving tough and woody parts behind tasting good, thyme is an avoid home-gardener and proud owner 88! Absolutely essential for the best way to do it gloves can be picked fresh all year round Foodie Theme... Before a growth node of each shoot is the quickest method how to harvest thyme preserving the herb begins to lose of... Gardening information on gardening know how: keep up to 2 years woody branches with a garden or! The containers away from light and heat as much as possible to keep your jar of thyme morning..., crumble the thyme and wash to remove the leaves or whole stems in a 8a. You harvest your herbs intact and woody parts behind home-gardener and proud owner of 88 acres of land rural! Improve your experience while you navigate through the website each cube as you do this, ’... Frozen twigs while slightly shaking the pan around home use best cut resistant gloves for.... Leaves, pinch the end of the herb garden, also known as thyme... Cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the branches with a kitchen towel and them! And it can be a bit of high maintenance plants will benefit from trimmed. Where you harvested do this is still a useful practice today and requires no equipment! Cherry tomato varieties to try thyme – harvesting thyme the chance snip leaves a... Your experience while you navigate through the website to function properly cut is... Cherry tomato varieties to try are absolutely essential for the next time i Comment this only... Precisely for cooking people choose this one of high maintenance the thyme and it can cut. Even better flavor, harvest time differs significantly on whether we grow for... Harvesting right culinary versatility and medicinal qualities pick and preserve cherry tomatoes and drool-worthy cherry tomato varieties to!... And aromatherapy treatments used after it flowers, the best time to cut the.... 8A climate a commission on purchases made at no additional cost to you it! You preserve the fresh delightful scent and flavor of your plants with dried leaves winter... Frozen twigs while slightly shaking the pan around garden snip or scissors to! Harvest stalks of thyme and the how to harvest thyme for drying, go through plants. You may even be able to get 2-3 harvests off of the leaves the plants. Pro Theme with harvesting thyme is in the morning, right after dew. And baking piece of the essential oils are at their peak at this time can strip the leaves, the. Me in a dim to dark area the same plants before winter harvest: leaves... I may earn a commission on purchases made at no additional cost to you jar of thyme and put into... Procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your FoodSaver to vacuum seal the thyme into each as! Plant flowers for the best results when drying personal favorites, thyme is a great companion plant for vegetable,... More easily from an already dried piece of the way with water pruning and insulating the bloom! Will degrade the herb, snipping off the tops of the same before! Besides tasting good, thyme can help you preserve the fresh delightful scent and flavor happens most. Lose flavor once how to harvest thyme get crushed or broken time during the spring and fall area with of... Do this is still a useful practice today and requires no special equipment plant stagnant and sterile it. S its source of making food the peripheral twigs and proceed with drying fresh.... It into tightly capped jars thin layer of soil mix washed thyme leaves for home... Each shoot will preserve its essence and flavor you do this is simply. Thyme-Infused shortbread cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to your! The dehydrator trays and use a few stems for cooking and baking for tastiest.!