Description Creeping thyme thrives in dry, sunny locations. May be lightly mowed from time to time to keep plants low and encourage a second flush of flowers. Grows 15 cm (6″) tall. Excellent for filling in between patio stones. Small purple flowers appear in early July and produce a nice lemon scent when brushed. Top notch bee fodder plant. Perennial hardy to Zone 4. How to Grow Direct garden sow in mid April to early May or start indoors in a soil-less mix March 1st for transplanting later in May. Keep at 20 C (70 F) for the 14 to 21 days (sometimes longer) germination period. After that grow on under lights at a slightly cooler temperature before hardening off and transplanting outside to a sunny spot. Outdoors grow plants in full sun. A dormant fall sowing in mid to late August is very effective too. 1 g sows 6 sq. m. (66 sq. ft.). Thyme, once established, competes well with weeds. Freshly exposed soil is often loaded with weed seeds. You will need to diligently remove weeds during the first and second growing seasons. For taller annual weeds, a careful mowing over the top of the seedlings can help keep these under control while the thyme is establishing. Physical removal is best for low growing weeds such as crabgrass, dandelion and plantain and of course for all perennial weeds.
