Creeping thyme, better known among the people as thyme, has been used by humans for centuries. Our distant ancestors knew this plant not only as a fragrant seasoning, but also as a powerful medicine that copes with various problems. As a result of studying the composition of this herb, many of its amazing properties have been scientifically confirmed.
general information
Indeed, the chemical composition of thyme or thyme is so rich in vitamins that you simply marvel. The healing properties of this plant are also due to the presence of choline, cymol, thymol, ascaridol, ursolic acid, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron and selenium in it.
The uniqueness of thyme is that it is a powerful natural antibiotic that can cope even with Staphylococcus aureus. Creeping thyme helps to normalize the nervous system, has a calming effect, and with frequent use it copes with insomnia, depression and even with a bad mood.
Description
This plant is often called the Bogorodsk grass. Creeping thyme is widespread throughout Europe. It is a stunted semi-shrub culture, the stems of which grow only up to fifteen centimeters in length. They, creeping on the ground, form a dense cover. The stems and leaves of this plant exude a spicy delicate aroma.
Creeping thyme is a member of the cinquefoil family. The plant is a perennial crop. Its flower-bearing branches - upright or slightly raised - form turfs.
The leaves of the thyme have an elliptical slightly oblong shape. They are about 5-10 mm long. Their width is from 1 to 3 mm. The leaves grow on short petioles, in the glands of which there is a high content of essential oil. Inflorescences form compact heads with narrow-bell-shaped cups.
Thyme creeping in August blooms with very small flowers, which are collected in capitate inflorescences. Today, this plant can be found not only in the wild in nature, but also in many household plots. Most gardeners actively grow creeping thyme. Photos of this plant during flowering can be found in many landscape design magazines. Thanks to the dense plexus of its stems, lanceolate leaves and purple or purple buds, the plant forms a real bright carpet.
The most common varieties
Most often, the following varieties of thyme are grown in our gardens: Colchis, Donna Valley and Silver Queen.
The last in the family is considered the tallest variety. The length of its stems reaches 20 cm. The leaves of this creeping thyme are painted in a grayish-white color. The Donna Valley variety forms a dense carpet of stalks, light yellowish leaves and pink flowers in the clearings all summer. Unpretentiousness is another of the undoubted advantages that characterize creeping thyme.
Landing and care
Photos of this amazing herbaceous plant do not convey that amazing spicy aroma that it exudes. But on them you can see how good thyme looks in flowerbeds and rocky hills, as a curb, etc.
Growing creeping thyme does not require much labor and hassle from the gardener. This is evidenced by the numerous reviews of those who planted this culture on their site. But in order for creeping thyme to develop well, planting and care for it must be carried out in compliance with certain agrotechnical conditions. Only in this case will this herbaceous plant bloom and fully possess healing properties.
First, you need to decide on a place. A flower bed for thyme needs to be selected on a site where there is a lot of sun. With a lack of light, the creeping thyme will lose its external attractiveness - its stems will stretch, the leaves will be chopped, and the flowering will become not so long and plentiful. Plant Bogorodskaya grass should only be in fertile land. The soil should be light, well conductive. The level of its acidity should be neutral.
Training
Before planting, the ground in the flowerbed should be pre-treated. In the fall, the soil will need to be dug up and made up. To do this, dry lime should be added to the soil and mixed well. Immediately before planting, a substrate should be prepared from river sand, chernozem and humus. At the same time, organic fertilizers will need to be applied: it may be compost or last year's manure.
Breeding
There are two ways: seedlings and seeds.
In the latter case, planting material is planted in open ground in spring, when both the soil and the air are already slightly warmed up. When propagated by seeds, the average temperature should be no less than +13 Λ. The flowerbed is again dug up, the earth is mixed with the substrate prepared in advance and leveled. Then the seeds are planted. After that, you need to pour them and sprinkle with a thin layer of sand. After germination of seeds and their growth (up to about three centimeters) they can be planted. The optimal distance for the thyme to develop normally is about thirty centimeters.
Another way that creeping thyme is propagated is to plant pre-prepared seedlings. It is grown independently from seeds in small containers since mid-February. The depth of the containers should be 10-15 cm. Holes should be made in the containers, drainage, a layer of sheet soil, peat, humus and sand should be laid in layers, moistened and seeds placed in them. To accelerate the germination capacity, it is recommended to cover the glass. Containers should be placed in a bright, warm place. Seedlings are transferred to open ground at the end of April.
Basic care rules
Creeping thyme is not at all difficult to grow in the garden.
In order for the thyme to fully develop, it should be watered twice a week. In this case, you do not need to fill the flower beds with large amounts of water: the soil should be soft, not wet. Another prerequisite is the timely removal of weeds. Caring for creeping thyme also consists in constantly plowing the soil. To obtain a beautiful appearance of the bushes, you need to pinch them from time to time. It will also stimulate the emergence of young shoots. As a result, the bush will become more magnificent and voluminous. In autumn, the stems should be slightly shortened to improve the decorative qualities of this herb.
Fertilizers
In principle, creeping thyme can not be fed. However, to improve its appearance and dense cover, urea is supplied to the plant in spring. In the second year, many gardeners recommend feeding with complex mineral fertilizers. Creeping thyme also responds well to wood ash. It is also periodically applied to the soil.
It is believed that ash helps to reduce acidity.
Diseases and Pests
Proper planting and care of thyme will protect the plant from problems. Thyme is an unpretentious culture, so growing it is not at all difficult. In open ground, thyme can be affected by pests such as aphids, weevils, sand larks or meadow moths. Pest control is necessary with the help of special insecticidal drugs. You can prevent their appearance by observing the rules for caring for thyme - removing weeds, fluffing up the soil. The list of events also includes timely liming and fertilizer.
Most creeping thyme is susceptible to fungal diseases. Most often, this ailment contributes to improper care, especially excessive watering or lack thereof.
In landscape design
Creeping thyme grows well in culture. It can be placed in a rocky garden or in a mixborder in the foreground. Often a plant is planted among slabs on paths, on slides between stones or in kindergartens stylized as a Mediterranean style. It is decorative even after flowering is complete. Today several variegated forms, as well as species having strong anthocyanin staining, have been bred. Skillfully combining varieties will help in creating compositions.
This unpretentious plant can well be grown at home. To do this, pour a little drainage into the pot, add soil, plant several seeds and cover again with a layer of soil. Having moistened well, you should wait for the first shoots, and then - to thin out. The creeping thyme will not only decorate the windowsill, but will also delight the owner with a useful crop.
Some tips
Thyme does not tolerate acidic soil. It is usually grown on a carbonate and other neutral substrate with a light or medium mechanical composition. The best predecessors in open ground for thyme are winter or pure steam. The soil should be dug at a depth of 27-30 cm. This plant is useful for the garden. It is not difficult to grow it, because it is adapted even to harsh climates. With proper care of creeping thyme, you can get a decoration for the garden, as well as fragrant seasoning and raw materials for medicinal tinctures.