You can pick individual leaves as you need them, leaving the rest of the plant intact. For a larger harvest, cut back an entire stem to the base of the plant, then strip off the leaves.
Harvesting Sage & Thyme
You can also cut back the plant by up to one-third of its height when it's actively growing in summer if it becomes overgrown or too tall. Save the leaves from pruning to use in the kitchen.
You can harvest fresh thyme sprigs at any time, although before flowering results in the best flavor. Thyme also tolerates a large harvest, which has the added benefit of keeping the plant compact and full. When the thyme grows to about 12 inches tall in midsummer, shear it back to within 2 inches of the ground. Use the leafy sprigs in the kitchen. The thyme grows back quickly, allowing you to make a second large harvest in late summer or early fall.
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Although both sage and thyme tolerate harvesting at any time, especially before flowering, it is best to pick at the right time of day. Midmorning or early afternoon, after the dew dries on the foliage but before midday heat causes the leaves to wilt, results in the best herbs for both fresh use and drying. Wet leaves decline in quality quickly. Use only sharp, clean shears for cutting back whole stems.
You can pick individual leaves by hand, but wash your hands before handling the plant so you don't inadvertently spread disease. Sage and thyme taste best when used fresh within two or three days of harvest. Storing the herbs in the refrigerator in a plastic bag helps retain their flavor. If you harvest more sage or thyme than you can use within a few days, freeze them for later use. Place the herbs in an ice cube tray and cover them with water. The herb cubes work well for cooked dishes, such as soups. You can also dry the herbs for long-term storage.
Keep dried sage and thyme in a sealed container in a cool, dark place so it retains its flavor better. Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Herbs require minimal fertilization.
Growing Thyme
In fact, herbs often suffer from overwatering and overfertilizing rather than from not enough. I have planted a small sprig of dried thyme a month ago. Its December now and I don't see any new green leaves sprouting. Some other plants I have planted at the same time have started slowly showing signs of life. Will this dry sprig grow? Was this a truly dry sprig? As the days get closer to winter, the plant may respond more slowly, or it may not form roots at all. For a tip cutting, remove the top 3 to 4-inches of a sprig, cutting at an angle, and then dusting the cut end in rooting hormone.
You may want to make the cut just below a node—where the leaves emerge from the stem. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Cover with a plastic bag to keep the environment moist—prop it up so that the plastic does not touch the plant. Place in a warm area in bright, indirect light.
Providing bottom heat, such as using a heating mat for seedlings, can be helpful. Keep up with watering again, making sure that it is not overly moist.
I'm currently growing "Doone Valley" Thyme. It's been growing amazingly but I'm not sure how to use it when cooking. The purple flowers have grown all over it but I wasn't sure if I should use the whole plant clippings, leaves and all or if there was a certain way to do so when cooking? You can, however, harvest the leaves and flowers and use them as a garnish. Some sources say that the lemony scent fades when cooked Lemon Thyme is better for this purpose. Strip the fresh leaves from the stems and use the leaves as needed, or dry sprigs of leaves using the instructions in the article above.
I started an herb garden last year, replacing my vegetables because the wild animals loved my vegetables too much.
I use creeping thyme for home made tea and also in my cooking. When you harvest thyme to use in the cooking, do you only use the leaves or the whole stem? I have a large harvest I could probably sell at my local farmers market ha ha! But for now I'm enjoying it myself but don't know if I'm using it correctly.
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Right now I pull off the leaves and discard the stem. Also, I have a hard time propagating them I want to place some in my windowsill but they always die out. The only success I had is to deliberately spread the creeping thyme around the garden to get it to grow where I want it because the cuttings always die. It's best to remove the leaves from the stem if you are using the herb to season foods at the end of the cooking time or cold dishes.
If you are using thyme in soups and dishes that cook for some time you can put sprigs in the pot. The leaves will detach from the stems during cooking and you can remove the stems before serving. To propagate thyme use cuttings from fresh new, green growth and dip the cut end into rooting hormone before putting the cuttings into soil.
How to Harvest Thyme | A Round Rock Garden
Is it ok to plant lemon thyme in my garden bed with my veggies? Or will it spread like wildfire and overtake the veggie garden. Thyme spreads nicely and yes, it can be invasive though not as much as mint! If you are concerned, it would be better to planting in a container. I have thyme still growing from three years ago. I didn't expect it to survive the harsh winters here in New York.
And so is last years cilantro. My question is, are they still good to eat? I also have Brussels sprouts and broccoli that I planted in the fall and never got to harvest. They're also thriving now. Should I keep them? Or plant new seeds? Thanks if anyone can help.. If you have old sprigs of thyme you may want to prune them back so that the plant will send up new growth this spring.
The cilantro will probably develop flowers and then go to seed quickly when the warmer weather arrives. Plant some cilantro seeds for fresh new cilantro leaves. You can harvest your Brussels sprouts and broccoli any time. Leave the plants in the ground for more sprouts and broccoli side shoots to grow. Eric I am also in NY.
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Did you direct sow your seed? How much sun does your space get? How long did it take to germinate? I've direct sowed some and am now wondering whether to wait and see or just plant something else. I recently planted thyme seeds in trays for indoor germination. I had real difficulty avoiding dropping the seeds in clusters as they are so very tiny.