"Growing Thyme in your herb garden"
Thyme has always been considered useful in treating colds and flu. One of my daughters swears by a thyme tisan at the first sign of a sniffle. It nearly always works! Thyme species vary greatly, but the most common ones really are a gardener's best friend. Go for regular garden thyme or lemon thyme. The plants smell divine.   Growing Thyme - position:Thyme is a perennial and once positioned shouldn't really be moved. Choose your spot well. Thyme plants like a dry sunny place in the garden. They do very well over rockeries or stone walls. As long as the soil is well-drained, your thyme plants should be happy. Plant one near the back door so you can bruise a few leaves when you walk by. The smell will linger for ages.
Start thyme seeds in early spring indoors and keep warm until the summer really arrives. Plant outside during the summer. You won't be able to harvest very many leaves, if any, during this first year of growth. It's a long process to get a healthy thyme plant from seed, but it can be done very successfully.. Thompson & Morgan supply online herb seeds. Or you could buy in a few plants that have already done the hard bit! Crocus UK have thyme plants available for UK deliveries... After 3 or 4 years, thyme will need dividing. Dig up carefully and pull roots apart gently. Re-plant the divided plants around the garden or give away in pots. Herbs make lovely gifts - practical, usable house plants! Thyme won't grow in heavy or boggy ground. Make sure the ground is well-drained. Water regularly - but not too much! Pick as you need the leaves, and harvest just as the plant is starting to flower, or simply leave to die back. Growing thyme - Storing:Like most herbs, thyme will always provide a better flavour when used fresh. A few leaves tossed into a salad will liven up the tastebuds! Or add a lemon thyme leaf to a long summer lemonade. Drying Dry thyme by hanging stems upside down in a dry airy and fairly dark place, or lay on trays and turn regularly.Crumble leaves when completely dry and store in an airtight glass jar. Keep out of direct light. Use for tisans through the winter months. Freezing Pick stems at flowering point. Leave a few in the herb bed to bloom and attract the butterflies and bees.Freeze quickly on trays and store in sealable freezer bags. Remember to label. Growing thyme for your health!:Thyme leaves are high in vitamins and, as mentioned above, thyme tisane helps fight colds and flu. Simply put a few small sprigs into a jug, pour on boiling water and leave to steep for about 5 minutes. Then strain and drink! Thyme also has anti-fungal properties and can help treat skin sores. It is also said to reduce flatulence, so a cup of thyme tea after a large plate of beans wouldn't go amiss! And for healthy eating!: Add a little thyme to all 'herby' recipes. Lemon thyme is an excellent addition to fish or cheese meals. Add chopped or whole young leaves to sauces and salads. Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates. ("There's more about growing thyme in this wonderful little book!")  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! 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"Lemon" Thyme
