Creeping thyme is a lovely little plant; it provides great ground cover and some really pretty flowers – plus it has a lovely scent, and can be used in cooking. What’s not to love?
If you have been looking for how to plant creeping thyme seeds, you are definitely in the right place – we’ve got everything you need to know.
What You'll Learn Today
How To Plant Creeping Thyme Seeds
Planting creeping thyme seeds is considerably easier than planting many other type of seed – you barely even have to do anything!
Often, plants need to be carefully and lovingly grown on inside a house or a greenhouse, but this littler creeper is much easier than that.
- Prepare the ground for your creeping thyme by digging over the site, removing any weeds and large stones. Rake the soil well to remove large clumps of soil.
- Sprinkle the contents of the seed packet evenly over the ground you have prepared, then gently press them in using your hand or the back of a spade.
- Alternatively, you can plant 2-3 seeds in prepared soil, about 18 inches apart in staggered rows.
- Water the seeds in well, then leave them alone until you start to see small green shoot appear.
- Keep the planted area consistently moist, to allow the new seedlings enough water to help them to grow.
- Ease off on the watering as the plants sprout up and grow hardier.
- You can, of course, grow these seeds indoors or start them in a greenhouse – the process is similar to any other seed.
As you see, these seeds are easy to start and quick to germinate, making them a great choice for gardens that need good plant coverage.
This video will show you the best way to plant your creeping thyme seeds:
What Is The Best Time To Plant Creeping Thyme?
Any plant has a “dormant” stage during the winter, so there is very little point planting anything before the warmer weather has started.
If you are looking to populate your garden with creeping thyme, it is best to wait until the spring or early summer before you start planting.
Planting at this time mimics the plant’s natural routine, and you should find that you end up with better results.
You can, of course, start off seeds indoors or in a greenhouse at any time of the year – as long as they are kept warm and watered you should see some results.
Bear in mind the plant’s natural rhythms, however, and don’t be too disappointed if you don’t see any action for a while!
Planting seeds indoors or in a greenhouse will give them a bit of a head start, and you may find that they are stronger and healthier when you plant them out in spring.
You don’t have to worry too much with this hardy little plant, however – it should grow well if you just wait for spring before planting.
Should I Soak Thyme Seeds Before Planting?
Planting seeds can be a bit of a minefield, can’t it? There are those that like a bit of damage; those that like soaking; still others that need to be cold.
Thankfully, planting thyme seeds is pretty simple – they do want to grow, and will do their best wherever and however you plant them!
Soaking a seed before planting gives it a really good burst of hydration, and this can help them to get the best start.
Some people say it mimics the natural weather conditions – seeds will have experienced a lot of rainfall before springing to life in, well, the spring!
It is recommended that you soak your thyme seeds for 12-24 hours before you plant them into pots or into the ground.
You should not do this soaking until you are within 24-48 hours of planting your seeds; you don’t want them to rot before they’ve even germinated!
It is worth trying a few different methods to start your seeds off – try some soaked and some not – and see which gives the best results.
How Long Does It Take Creeping Thyme To Grow From Seed?
It’s an exciting time, isn’t it? You’ve planted your seeds, given them all the love and their favourite conditions – so how long before you see those telltale green shoots?
Every plant is different – some burst from the soil almost straight away, others take a little longer to dhow their faces.
Creeping thyme tends to germinate in about 2 weeks. Try not to get too impatient before this time!
As long as your seeds are in the right place, with enough light and moisture, you should see them coming to life soon.
Don’t be tempted to start poking around in the soil looking for shoots – you run the risk of damaging those little babies before they’ve even broken through the soil. Yes, I speak from sad experience!
How Many Creeping Thyme Seeds Do I Need Per Square Foot?
How many seeds you need depends slightly on how many creeping thyme plants you actually want – are you after a carpet of them, or just enough to fill a small patch in your garden?
If you are planting into a prepared bed, go for 5-6 seeds per square inch. They won’t all come up, but enough will that you’ll have a great thyme bed in no time!
If you are planting into pots to grow on, put 2-3 seeds into each pot and harden them off so they are ready for the outside world.
This comprehensive article will tell you just about everything you need to know about planting just about any type of thyme.
Creeping Thyme key Facts
| Name | Creeping Thyme |
| Scientific Name | Thymus Serpyllum |
| Family | Mint |
| Light Requirements | Full sun |
| Soil Requirements | Well draining soil |
| Temperature Requirements | Warm and dry conditions. 68-86 degrees F |
| Water Requirements | No extra watering required, rainwater only |
| Fertilizer Requirements | No need to feed, poor soil acceptable |
| Bloom Time | 3-4 weeks in spring or summer – see more details here |
| Pests | Spider mites, aphids |
| Size | 5-10cm high, 20-30cm across |
Final Thoughts
Planting creeping thyme seeds is a great fun activity, and one that can leave your whole garden beautiful and scented.
Plus, if you like cooking with thyme then these really are the seeds for you – they’re both beautiful AND practical. What could be better?
Can I cook with thyme seeds?
Using the plant itself is generally the most accepted way of using thyme, but you can use the seeds – if you can be bothered! You’ll get far better results if you use the plant, whether it is dried or fresh, to get those lovely flavors that you are after.
Tiny seeds how do you actually plant them so.e day mix with sand but what applicator