How to Germinate Thyme Indoors

Thyme belongs to the genus Thymus, which includes approximately 350 species of perennial flowering herbs. Thymus vulgaris, or common thyme, is widely cultivated in gardens as a culinary herb and as an ornamental plant for its low-growing stature and dainty pinkish flowers, which cover the plant during the summer months. Seeds provide a reliable means of growing new thyme plants, but they must be germinated indoors approximately six weeks before the last frost in spring. Although the seeds germinate well, they are slow to sprout and must be kept under warm, bright conditions at all times.

2-inch-deep nursery flat
Seedling compost
Spray bottle
3-inch pots
Potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a 2-inch-deep nursery flat with seedling compost. Mist the compost with a spray bottle to settle it. Keep spritzing until it feels moist at a depth of 3/4 inch.
- 2
  Sprinkle thyme seed over the surface of the seedling compost. Aim for scattering three or four thyme seeds per square inch.
- 3
  Cover the thyme seed with a scant layer of seedling compost to help hold moisture around the seeds. Avoid completely burying the seeds since they require light to germinate.
- 4
  Mist the thyme seeds once they are sown. Saturate the surface of the seedling compost until water begins to pool.
- 5
  Place the nursery flat where it will receive eight to ten hours of bright light each day such as under a large, well-lighted window with southerly exposure. Choose a spot where temperatures stay around 70 F.
- 6
  Mist the thyme seeds with the spray bottle whenever the soil surface feels dry when lightly pressed. Maintain moisture at a 1/2-inch-depth during germination.
- 7
  Watch for germination in one month. Thin the thyme seedlings to one per square inch once they grow to 1 inch in height.
- 8
  Transplant the largest, healthiest thyme seedlings into individual 3-inch pots filled with potting soil once they produce at least four fully formed, mature leaves.

How to Germinate Monarda Didyma Seeds

How to Transplant Fenugreek

Growing Herbs