A friend of mine recently asked how to grow thyme from seed indoors.  She wanted to grow a couple of containers of thyme indoors to have fresh thyme on hand in the kitchen.

Although it will take a while before she has a plant she can harvest from, she wanted to try growing her own thyme plants from seed anyway.

Also, if you’re planning to plant multiple thyme herb plants into your garden, starting thyme from seed indoors to transplant into your garden is an economical way to go.

Here’s how to start thyme herb plants from seed:

Fill clean pots with moist indoor potting mix, or seed starting mix.  We used a 4-inch/10cm pot.  Any sized container will work, as long as it has drainage holes at the bottom.

If starting multiple thyme plants, I prefer to use seed starting trays so that I can start more plants in a smaller space.  The seedlings can then be transplanted into larger containers or into the garden as they grow.

We left a little space between the top of the container and soil level (about 1/2-inch/1cm) as we planned to cover the seeded containers with plastic wrap and wanted to leave a bit of an air pocket for circulation.

Sprinkle thyme seeds over the top of the planting mix.  As the germination rate of thyme seeds can be slow and uneven, we over seeded a little to ensure a full container of thyme.

Gently stir the surface of the seeded planting mix with a toothpick to help distribute the seeds more evenly.  This step is not necessary if you’ve seeded your container evenly, but I am notorious for dropping a lot of thyme seeds in one corner of a pot.

Tamp down the top of the seeded planting mix gently, to help ensure the seeds are in contact with the mix.  I use my fingers to gently press down on the mix.  There is no need to add more potting mix over the top of the thyme seeds.

Cover the seeded containers with a clear cover to help maintain a most environment for seed germination.  We loosely covered our pots with plastic wrap.  Clear seed starting domes or clear lids from produce containers are other awesome options.

Place your seeded containers in a warm room – about 70 degrees F / 21 degrees C.  If the room is on the cooler side or drafty, a heating mat may help speed up germination.  Thyme seeds take about 2 to 4 weeks to sprout.

If the top of the planting mix starts to dry out, gently mist from above so as not to disturb or wash away the seeds.  I keep a spray bottle with water nearby to spritz the planted containers if needed.

Once the seeds start to sprout, remove the plastic wrap or dome cover, and turn off the heating mat if using.  It’s important to remove any coverings at this point, as a humid environment may promote mold and damping off disease which may kill the young seedlings.

Place your thyme seedlings in a bright area near a sunny window, preferably with grow lights.  Thyme is a Mediterranean herb that enjoys lots of sunlight.

Once the thyme seedlings emerge, I also prefer to water from below so as not to damage the seedlings.  Keep the thyme containers moist, but not soggy.  If there is still water in the bottom tray a few hours after watering and the container mix is moist on top, then pour out the excess water from the bottom tray.

Once your thyme herb plants start growing a little larger and their root systems are more developed, you can water when the top of the planting mix feels dry.

If planting your thyme outside, thyme can be transplanted outdoors when danger of frost has passed.  Ensure you plant in well draining soil, as thyme is susceptible to root rot.  In most climates, thyme grows well in sunny locations, and many thymes will tolerate part shade.

Got questions on starting thyme or other herbs from seed?  Drop me a note in the comments below.

Happy Gardening 🙂
Barb

For more about thyme, check out….
How To Grow Thyme Successfully
Groundcover Thymes That Withstand Foot Traffic