Thyme, the fourth herb in our series, comes in many varieties. The small, shrubby upright kinds are mainly culinary while the creeping or prostate spreading kinds are more decorative. Common thyme, "Thymus vulgaris", has small dark green leaves with clusters of comparatively large mauve flowers. Not only do the flowers have an attractive scent, but they also attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. The leaves have more concentrated oils than the scraggly stems and are most pungent before the plant flowers.
Thyme likes a sunny (6 hours or more daily) location with fertile, well-drained soil. Harvest thyme in the morning after the dew has dried, but before the hot afternoon sun dissipates the oils from the leaves. Simply cut off a handful of the stems, wash them under cold running water, and strip off the leaves for use while setting the stems aside. The fresh, dried, or ground leaves can be used in meat, poultry, seafood, egg, cheese, and vegetable dishes. Thyme can also be used in stews, casseroles, or potpourris.
Try making your own dried thyme by laying a single layer of cut stems on a rack or cookie sheet. Place the tray in your oven at the lowest setting and periodically monitor the drying process. If the leaves turn brown and crispy, then you have dried them for too long. You want brittle (dry), but green leaves which can be easily stripped of the stems and placed in airtight jars or containers. Make sure to use the dried leaves within 2-3 months as they lose their flavor after this. Rosemary, sage, oregano, and lavender can also be harvested and dried like this for future uses.
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Once the stems are dried and stripped of their leaves, they can be tied in miniature bundles. Keep these in a cool, dry place until Fall or winter. Then burn them (like sage) in the fireplace for a bracing, aromatic, pungent scent.
Thyme is an easy to grow herb. Oil from the plant is allegedly antiseptic. It can be used for cooking or in sachets or in potpourris. It's about time you grew some thyme in your flower or vegetable garden this year for its many uses---it will not disappoint!