Lemon Thyme
Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) A-Z
A very subtle thyme and citrus flavour.
- How to use lemon thyme in cooking
- Example recipes
- Fastest way to grow from seed
1. How to use Lemon thyme in cooking.
Thyme is very easy to use in cooking
- Wash the thyme before usings
- Then either use the whole sprig or simply remove leaves and bin the stalk.
- If you want to strip the leaves, hold a stalk at the top and run your thumb and forefinger along the stalk from top to bottom
Or…..
The alternative way is to pull the stalk through a sieve. The video below shows how to prepare thyme if you would like to store it in the freezer.
2. Example Lemon Thyme recipes
The plants are ideal for lovers of food.
When you grow this type of thyme it will have yellow-green leaves that are lemon-scented, making it perfect for chicken and fish dishes.
Typical recipes
Lactose free lemon thyme sauce
Sweet honey thyme sauce
How to store fresh thyme
3. Fastest way to grow Lemon thyme from seed
There are 2 ways to grow Lemon thyme – using soil or hydroponics.
1a. Quick summary
- Seed to harvest – 80 days
- Plant Size – Height 40 cm, Spread 30 cm
- Ideal location – Loves warm, sunny conditions
1b. Instructions
When growing from seed you will need the following:
- 1 packet Lemon thyme seeds
- Plant pot & soil
- 1 Seed tray (optional)
- 1 Heating mat (optional)
Step 1 – Get the lemon thyme seeds.
You can order them online from Amazon or some garden centres will sell them.
Step 2 – Put the seeds in the soil.
Fill a plant pot (or a few pots ) with soil, then add the seeds and sprinkle a bit of soil on top.
- Quick tip 1 – If you put the seeds into a bowl of water for 30 minutes to 1 hour they will start growing quicker then simply putting them in soil.
- Quick tip 2 – Instead of using plants pots start the seeds using a seed tray with a lid. The advantage of using a lid is that it will retain the moisture helping your plants grow. Simply put a bit of soil in the tray, spoon in the seeds and cover with a bit of soil.
Step 3 – Put the pot or tray somewhere safe and leave them to sprout.
The seeds will germinate in 7 to 21 days.
- Quick tip 3 – Use a heat mat. All you do is put the tray on the mat and the extra heat will significantly speed up how fast your seeds will grow.
- For more info & why it works so well have a look at our article on a seed starter mat
Step 4 – Help them grow
When they’ve grown thin the seedlings or transplant leaving 30 cm between plants, Then simple put them somewhere warm and sunny and wait for them to grow.
One option (depending on the time of year or where you live) is to use an indoor grow light.
Or you can use a ready made plant
Growing it from seed is very easy, and a lot cheaper.
On the other hand it is sometimes a lot faster to simply but a plant. Especially if you can to start using it for cooking.
Like seeds the plants are Available from Amazon as well as many garden centres.
Growing Lemon thyme using Hydroponics or Aquaponics
Hydroponics is where you grow it in an automated system, where the roots grow straight in water.
For example like the unit pictured:
- Ideal for hydroponics or aquaponics
- Will take about 5 to 7 weeks before harvesting
- You can speed this up by planting cuttings
More info on the kitchen hydroponic unit
Nice variety to grow and interesting flavour – but would only grow it if you’ve got space and not instead of French Thyme