Learn how to harvest thyme regularly to keep your plants fresh and prevent them from becoming woody.
Thyme is a woody-stemmed herb from the Mediterranean region that lends big flavor to foods with its tiny leaves.
Knowing how to harvestthymecorrectly is important to prevent too much woodiness.
Credit:Scott Little
Harvesting thyme throughout the season provides your kitchen with all the fresh thyme you need for yourfavorite recipes.
This enhances the flavor of thyme leaves and helps ensure the fresh thyme dries quickly.
Keep rubber bands around your wrist when you harvest thyme, and bundle the thyme sprigs as you work.
For longer-term storage,freeze thymein ice cube trays or dry it by air-drying or with a food dehydrator.
Place them in a sunny location with loamy, well-draining soil to continue your harvest.
Dainty and colorful, thyme flowers make charming garnishes for salads, soups, and desserts.
Thyme can be air-dried or dried in a dehydrator or an oven set at the lowest setting.
For dehydrators and ovens, dry thyme at approximately 105F until it easily crumbles in your fingers.
This process takes about two to five hours.
Whether you chop thyme with or without the stems is a matter of personal preference.
Thyme stems are technically edible; it’s possible for you to chop them up with the thyme leaves.
On average, they will last between four and six years.
