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Thyme De Provence, or ‘Summer Thyme’, is a popular perennial herb that is well known for its culinary, medicinal and ornamental uses. With its tiny, soft, grey-green leaves and small, pinkish flowers, Thyme de Provence is spicier than common thyme and is the preferred option in authentic French cuisine. In fact, it is the leading component in the famous Herbes de Provence dried herb mix, as well as in the Bouquet garni – a bundle of string-tied herbs used to flavour soups and stews. Thyme can be found beyond the library’s ‘cookery’ section, though; it has long been a key ingredient in folk medicine and is listed frequently in spell handbooks. Historically, it’s had a major role in vision-inducing love potions, fairy-producing unguents and, as the botanist Nicholas Culpeper recommended, nightmare remedies.
LATIN NAME
Thymus vulgaris
NAME
Thyme
VARIETY
De Provence
QUANTITY
10 seeds
PLANT SIZE
Height15 cm
Width20 cm
CONTAINER SIZE
Height20 cm
Width20 cm
COMPANION PLANT
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, oregano, alpine strawberries.
SOWING
IndoorFeb-Mar
OutdoorApr-June
TIMING
Germination15-30 days
Harvesting40-60 days
SPACING
When sowing1-2 cm; Depth 0,5 cm
When thinning3-5 cm
GROWING
SunligthFull sun.
SoilWell-drained, light and poor soil.
WateringRegular, allow to dry out.
FeedingAddition of fertilizer is not necessary.
CARING
Expert tipThyme requires very little care, apart from occasional watering. Light pruning will help to maintain its compact-yet-bushy shape. Thyme is a sun-loving plant, and the light draws out the pungent oils that make its flavour so strong.
SUPPORTING
Pollinators
Attracts bees and butterflies.
Pests
Repels cabbage pests, whitefly and tomato hornworm.
HARVESTING
Pinch out small, fresh branches as you need them, or hang to dry in small bunches.
EATING
Medicinal propertiesIn Hippocrates’ time, infusions of the herb were drunk at the end of banquets for digestive purposes.
How to eatThyme De Provence works well in all Mediterranean meat and vegetable recipes, as testified by its presence in the classic Arabic Za’atar spice blend. When combined with honey, thyme can be used across the spectrum of dishes, from salads to sweet treats (especially those containing complementary lemon or orange flavours).
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Type: Garden