How to grow thyme
Thymus vulgaris · Lamiaceae · Herb
When to plant thyme: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out around the last frost date. Wait until the soil is at least 55°F; thyme sprout fastest near 70°F.
Zone 5: plant out Apr 23 – May 10. Zone 7: plant out Mar 29 – Apr 15. Zone 9: plant out Feb 13 – Mar 2. See every zone.
Thyme is a warm-season herb in the Lamiaceae family, usually started indoors and set out as transplants. It wants full sun (six or more hours of direct light) and little supplemental water once established. From sowing to first pick is about 75–90 days. It handles frost well and a light freeze often improves the flavour.
Grower’s note: A woody, drought-tolerant perennial, hardy to about Zone 5. Wants lean, sharply drained soil - rich soil and overwatering rot it. Trim lightly after flowering; never cut back into bare wood.
Sowing
Sow barely covered — the seed needs light to germinate, into soil between 55–80°F — germination is quickest near 70°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (14–28 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 10″ along the row with roughly 12″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 4 per square foot. Allow at least 8″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 6″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
Thyme needs roughly 75–90 frost-free days to crop. Where the season is shorter than that, start it indoors and choose the earliest-maturing varieties, or grow it in a container you can move under cover on cold nights. In long, hot-summer regions it can often be planted twice — once in spring and again in mid-to-late summer for a fall harvest.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long thyme takes to grow
From seed to first harvest takes roughly 19-21 weeks: about 8 weeks as a seedling indoors, then 75-90 days in the garden.
When to plant thyme
When to plant thyme by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 8 – May 25 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 3 – May 20 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 23 – May 10 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 25 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 15 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Feb 13 – Mar 2 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 23 – Feb 9 |
Compare with the other herbs: when to plant herbs, by zone.
Companions
Cabbage, strawberry, Eggplant
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: aphids, spider mite.
Diseases & disorders: root rot, gray mold.
Same family (Lamiaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant thyme?
Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out around the last frost date. Wait until the soil is at least 55°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does thyme take to grow?
About 75-90 days from transplanting to the first harvest, or roughly 19-21 weeks from sowing the seed indoors. Seeds germinate in 14-28 days.
How much sun does thyme need?
It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day.
What soil pH does thyme need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 8.0. It tolerates neutral to slightly alkaline soil better than most vegetables. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant thyme?
Space plants about 10 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ⅛ inch deep.
Can I grow thyme in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 6 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.