How to grow thyme in a raised bed
Likes it on the dry side. Plant near the edge of the bed.
Spacing4 plants per square foot
How to startStart seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost, or buy young plants
When to plantAround your last spring frost
Time to harvestAbout 70 days
Grows toAbout 8 in tall
Comes back each year inZones 5–9
When to plant thyme in your zone
Dates are based on the average frost dates for each zone. Don't know your zone? Enter your ZIP code in the planner.
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the bed | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Winters usually too cold; grow in a pot brought indoors | ||
| Zone 3b | Winters usually too cold; grow in a pot brought indoors | ||
| Zone 4a | Winters usually too cold; grow in a pot brought indoors | ||
| Zone 4b | Winters usually too cold; grow in a pot brought indoors | ||
| Zone 5a | Mar 9 | May 4 | — |
| Zone 5b | Mar 3 | Apr 28 | — |
| Zone 6a | Feb 25 | Apr 22 | — |
| Zone 6b | Feb 18 | Apr 15 | — |
| Zone 7a | Feb 11 | Apr 8 | — |
| Zone 7b | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | — |
| Zone 8a | Jan 28 | Mar 25 | — |
| Zone 8b | Jan 18 | Mar 15 | — |
| Zone 9a | Jan 4 | Mar 1 | — |
| Zone 9b | Dec 21 | Feb 15 | — |
| Zone 10a | Winters usually too warm | ||
| Zone 10b | Winters usually too warm | ||
Tips for raised beds
- In square-foot gardening, plant 4 plants in each 1 × 1 ft square.
- It stays fairly short, so it can go near the south (sunny) edge of the bed.
- Most vegetables and fruit need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Where to buy thyme seeds
Burpee · True Leaf Market · Botanical Interests
Plan where your thyme go. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
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