Growing thyme from seed can be tricky, Carol. You would have much better taking cuttings from the new growth of an established plant. Or, your local garden center may be able to provide you small plants by the flat. If you want lemon thyme, I suggest you seek out the cultivar "Doone Valley," which has a more more pronounced scent than common lemon thyme and a lower growth habit.

if you have a nursery that you shop at regularly-stop in sometime soon and ask. they are likely taking delivery of a lot of perennial plugs early spring. they should be able to add a tray of 72 plugs to their order for a very reasonable price. they may have already placed the order, so i would ask them soon-early spring is the best time to get something like that started. you can plant the plugs up to a foot apart and still get nearly solid coverage in one season (if they are in a nice sunny, well drained spot)

You're welcome, Carol. I think there's going to be a gorgeous patch of thyme in your future!

Doone Valley is one of my favorite thymes. :) It is the best of thymes!

i love having thyme, i have some planted close to the kitchen door so that i can take clippings even in the middle of winter.

it seems like our winter just started in february, but i am still more than ready for spring... what size plants did you get from your nursery? i only ask because you can often divide 4" pots into several pieces to get a faster spread-especially if you are going to be watering them carefully to get it established. we grow and sell them by the gallon at our nursery, but i always tell the client if they want a faster cover for a larger area to tear them apart (a gallon can make up to eight nice size pieces).

A likely excellent choice would be Proven Winners who are a Nusery Supply company. If you have a Facebook profile, go to it and in the search box type Proven Winners and you will find their post. Once there you can make further inquiries through them or individuals connected to their post just as we do here with hometalk. Gabriel/Gabe