How To Harvest Thyme And Store It Right - Epic Gardening

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Thyme is an exceptional herb to grow in the garden and a fragrant addition to many culinary dishes. If you are new to growing thyme or enjoy cooking with this herb, it’s important to understand when and how to harvest thyme properly.

Thyme includes several distinctive varieties, such as garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris), lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus), caraway thyme (Thymus herba-barona), and woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanguinosus). You may want to check local nurseries for young plants, as thyme can be somewhat difficult to propagate from seed. If you have a gardening friend, asking for a cutting is another reliable way to get started and is often how gardeners establish new thyme plants.

Thyme originates from the Mediterranean and is easy to grow, low-maintenance, and drought-tolerant. It performs best in full sun and well-drained, sandy soil. Some gardeners grow thyme in containers so it can be moved indoors during winter, while others plant it in herb gardens alongside rosemary, oregano, parsley, and sage.

Having fresh thyme readily available is exciting, but harvesting at the wrong time or cutting too aggressively can slow growth and damage the plant. Proper harvesting techniques and occasional pruning encourage healthy regrowth and help maintain a full, bushy, and productive thyme plant.

English Thyme Seeds

An invaluable seasoning in the kitchen, thyme has a subtle, woodsy flavor that complements a variety of foods. A staple herb of chefs, and one of the primary ingredients of bouquet garni. With very small leaves and delicate, edible flowers, thyme makes a lovely, drought-tolerant, 12″-tall landscape plant; use as a low hedge around your herb or vegetable garden.

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When Should I Harvest Thyme?

First question: How old are your thyme plants? If you are in the first year of planting thyme, it is recommended to be very, very sparse and light with harvesting. This first year is critical for allowing plants to establish so you can enjoy years of generous harvests. Feel free to take a few small sprigs from the tips of the plant or a handful of leaves to flavor dishes occasionally. Keep in mind that thyme plants are still young in their first year and cannot tolerate heavy harvesting.

Because there are many thyme varieties that differ in growth habit and size, it helps to look at the overall width of the plant. If thyme is at least four to five inches wide, it has matured enough to handle harvesting.

You can harvest fresh thyme periodically throughout the growing season, particularly in spring and summer. For the strongest flavor, trim cuttings just before flowering or as flowering begins. The best time of day to harvest thyme is on a sunny morning once the leaves have dried from dew or moisture, as essential oils are most concentrated then. Avoid harvesting during winter when plants are dormant and growth is slow.

If you are growing thyme as an annual, or in colder regions outside its preferred growing zones, plan to do a larger harvest just before the first frost. Thyme can tolerate a light frost, but for optimal flavor and successful storage, harvesting before cold temperatures and increased moisture set in is best.

How To Harvest Thyme

You will need sterilized pruners or garden shears when you are ready to harvest thyme. Harvesting creates an open wound on the plant, so clean tools help keep it healthy. Pinching or tearing off leaves and stems can cause unnecessary damage and create weak points where disease or pests may enter.

When harvesting, take young, fresh sprigs or leaves and avoid cutting into the woody portions of the plant. Woody stems are less fragrant, not ideal for cooking, and are essential for regrowth. Also avoid harvesting after thyme has gone to seed in fall, as the flavor declines significantly. During summer, you can remove flowers to prevent the plant from setting seed.

Do not remove more than one-third of the plant at a time. Thyme responds best to light, cut-and-come-again harvesting, taking only a sprig or two at once. This approach encourages fuller, bushier growth. Always spread your cuts around the plant rather than harvesting from a single area.

Make cuts just above a leaf node to promote branching and increase future harvest potential.

How To Store Fresh Thyme

Now that you have freshly harvested thyme, how should you store it? First, resist the urge to wash your harvest. Washing removes the fragrant oils that give thyme its flavor. For the best taste, try to use fresh thyme within the first three days after harvesting. If you have more than you can use right away, there are several ways to extend its shelf life.

To maintain freshness, keep the leaves attached to the stems during storage. For refrigerator storage, wrap the stems in a slightly damp paper towel and place them inside a sealed plastic bag. This method will keep thyme fresh for up to two weeks. For longer storage, place the stems upright in a glass jar with about one inch of water and store them in the refrigerator. As long as the water is changed periodically, thyme can last up to three months this way.

To freeze fresh thyme, place whole sprigs directly into a freezer bag. You can remove leaves from the frozen stems as needed while cooking. Another option is to strip the leaves from the stems and place them into ice cube trays filled with water. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag for long-term storage. Thyme stored this way will retain good flavor for up to six months.

How To Dry Thyme

There are several methods for drying thyme, including using a food dehydrator, hang drying, or air drying. If you choose to wash your herbs to remove debris, place them on a towel afterward and pat them dry. Allow the thyme to air dry completely for at least two hours after rinsing.

Keep the leaves on the stems when using a food dehydrator, as removing them beforehand can cause the small leaves to fall through the trays. Preheat the dehydrator to its lowest setting, around 100°F (38°C). Arrange the cuttings in a single layer on the trays. Drying can take anywhere from one to four hours, so check the herbs frequently. When the leaves are crisp and crumbly, the drying process is complete. Let the herbs cool for about one hour before removing them from the dehydrator.

For hang drying, use long thyme cuttings that are at least six inches in length. Tie six to eight stems together with string and hang them upside down in a warm, dry location out of direct sunlight. Leaves may fall off during this process. To catch them, loosely tie a paper bag around the bundle and cut a few small air slits in the bag.

If you are drying multiple bundles, space them a few inches apart to allow for good air circulation. Hang drying typically takes two to three weeks, until the leaves are fully dry and crumbly.

If you prefer to dry thyme leaves without the stems, spread them in a single layer on parchment paper placed on a baking sheet. Stir the leaves every 12 hours. They should be fully dry within two to three days.

Storing the dried thyme is the final step. You can store the herbs on the stem or remove the leaves and place them in a clean, dry, airtight container. If you strip the leaves from the stems, work carefully, as the dried leaves are fragile and easily crushed.

Store the container in a dark, dry location. After a few weeks, check the herbs for any signs of residual moisture that may have been released inside the container.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cut thyme?

Use sterilized garden scissors or shears and cut a sprig that is several inches long above a leaf node or trim a few leaves off.  Avoid cutting the woody stems.

What do you do with thyme in the fall?

There are a few options after you have harvested your thyme. If you live in Zone 4 or a cold region, consider planting thyme in a few potted containers that you can bring indoors.  Place it in a sunny location and it will keep growing throughout the winter season.  Or you can cover the thyme plant in plastic if it’s outside in the ground.  To prep the plant for overwintering outdoors, pile several inches of mulch and soil around the base of the thyme to keep the roots warm.