Real thyme and its robust subspecies can withstand even bitter frost down to -30 degrees Celsius. The question arises whether this also applies to herbal treasures such as lemon thyme? Read here what the frost hardiness of Thymus x citriodorus is like. This is how the scented and herbal plant gets through the winter safely.
Is lemon thyme hardy and how do I protect it in winter?
Is lemon thyme hardy? Lemon thyme is partially hardy. In the bed it needs winter protection through pruning, leaves and brushwood. In pots less than 30 cm in diameter, they should be brought into winter quarters at 5-10 degrees Celsius and watered rarely.
Not in the bed without winter protection
As a hybrid, lemon thyme does not have the robust frost hardiness of the pure variety, even if real thyme is one of the parent plants. If you care for the evergreen subshrub in the bed, overwintering can only be achieved with the help of these precautions:
- Cut the plant back by half before the first frost
- The root disk and shoots are covered with a 30 cm high layer of leaves
- Place pine fronds or brushwood over it to secure it
Reliable protection against frost and snow is also provided by a breathable garden fleece (€9.00 on Amazon), which is spread over the planting site and weighted down with stones at the edges. There is no cause for concern if the above-ground branches freeze back. As long as the roots survive the winter in the soil, they will sprout again in the spring.
It's better to put it away in the herb pot
In pots with a diameter of less than 30 cm, there is a risk of frostbite in the root ball. It therefore makes sense to place lemon thyme as a container plant in winter quarters. Of course, the plant is out of place on the warm windowsill in the kitchen. How to do it right:
- If the temperatures fall towards freezing point in autumn, shorten the shoots by half
- Carry the pot into a bright, frost-free room with temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius
- The lower the temperatures, the darker the winter quarters can be
- Water lemon thyme little and do not fertilize
Please place larger vessels on a block of wood in front of the protective south wall of the house. A thick winter coat made of fleece, jute or foil protects the root ball from frost damage. Cover the substrate with wood shavings, autumn leaves or sawdust. In sunny, dry winter weather, water the lemon thyme on mild days.
Tip
Lemon thyme thrives wonderfully in hanging baskets to transform the balcony into an invigorating scented garden. If the shoots hang decoratively, you can harvest the herb plant - without the hassle of bending down - simply while standing.
