When to plant thyme by city
Start thyme indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost, plant them out up to 2 weeks after your last frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.
| City | Last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA (9a) | Mar 13 | Jan 2–16 | Mar 13–27 |
| Portland, OR (8b) | Feb 25 | Dec 17–31 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Sacramento, CA (9b) | Jan 12 | Nov 3–17 | Jan 12–26 |
| Phoenix, AZ (10a) | Jan 5 | Oct 27 – Nov 10 | Jan 5–19 |
| Salt Lake City, UT (7b) | Mar 31 | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Denver, CO (6a) | Apr 30 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Dallas, TX (8b) | Mar 2 | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Mar 2–16 |
| Minneapolis, MN (5a) | Apr 23 | Feb 12–26 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Kansas City, MO (6b) | Apr 4 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 4–18 |
| Chicago, IL (6b) | Apr 10 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 10–24 |
| Columbus, OH (6b) | Apr 20 | Feb 9–23 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Nashville, TN (7b) | Apr 1 | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 1–15 |
| Atlanta, GA (8a) | Mar 24 | Jan 13–27 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Raleigh, NC (8a) | Mar 28 | Jan 17–31 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Philadelphia, PA (7b) | Mar 30 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Boston, MA (7a) | Apr 4 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 4–18 |
In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow thyme from fall through winter.
Thyme spacing
In a square-foot bed, plant 4 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 8 inches apart with 12 inches between rows.
Likes it dry and lean. Good for the sunny edge of a bed.
How to grow thyme
Thyme is a small, woody perennial herb that thrives on neglect. It likes heat, sun and dry, lean soil, and its main enemy is wet feet. It fits neatly along the sunny edge of a bed or between stepping stones and is hardy in about zones 5–9.
Sun and soil
Full sun and very well-drained sandy or rocky soil with a pH of about 6.0–8.0. Once established, thyme needs little water.
Planting
- Buy plants or root cuttings; seed germinates slowly and unevenly.
- From seed, start indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost and barely cover it.
- Transplant from the last frost date to 2 weeks after, when soil is about 60°F.
- Space plants 8 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart.
Care
- Water only during long dry spells. Fertilizer is rarely needed.
- Use a gravel mulch, or none, around the crown; organic mulch holds moisture against the stems.
- Trim plants in early spring and after flowering to keep them compact, but avoid cutting into old, bare wood.
- Replace plants every few years when they become woody and sparse.
Harvest
Snip the top few inches of stems as needed, leaving the woody base. Flavor is strongest just before flowering. Strip the leaves from the stems; thyme dries easily and keeps its flavor well.
Common problems
- Root rot and winter dieback: Plants die out in heavy, wet soil, especially over winter. Plant in raised beds or sandy soil and do not overwater.
- Woody, leggy plants: Regular light trimming slows it; replace old plants with rooted cuttings.
- Spider mites: Stippled leaves in hot, dry weather, mainly on stressed or indoor plants. Rinse with water.
Varieties to try
- English (common) thyme — the standard culinary thyme
- 'Narrow Leaf French' — fine gray leaves, sweet flavor
- Lemon thyme (Thymus × citriodorus) — lemon-scented leaves
- 'German Winter' — compact and very cold hardy
Crop rotation
Thyme belong to the mint family (Lamiaceae). Mostly herbs and perennials; rotation matters little. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: basil, mint, oregano, sage, rosemary.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant thyme?
What grows well with thyme?
How far apart should I plant thyme?
How long do thyme take to grow?
Can thyme handle frost?
Sources
- Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
- Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS and PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
- Planting windows and spacing: Vegetable Planting Guide (GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension, and other land-grant extension guides.
- Gardening with Companion Plants (EM128E), Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University Extension, 2023
- Thymus vulgaris (thyme) — NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
- Herbs — Clemson Cooperative Extension (HGIC)