13 JULY 2019AMATEUR GARDENING 59Once upon a thyme...
I
T’S said the best things come in
small packages – well, if I were cast
away on a desert island, the plant
I’d rescue from the waves would
be wild thyme. This valuable alpine/herb
might be petite, but its usefulness makes
it worth its weight in pieces of eight.
The leaves are pungent, especially in
bright sunshine, so they’d make flavour-
filled additions to the suppers of the
shipwrecked. The piney, almost peppery
taste has the power to elevate roasted
red snapper and ‘caiman kebabs’ (my
desert island speciality) from very good
to great! Then, as the sun goes over the
yardarm, a sprig or two in a highball glass
gives balance to the freshly squeezed
pineapple in my spiced-rum daiquiri snifter.
Like all thyme varieties, the clusters
of pink blooms are also a favourite food
source for bees – this would be important
for my marooned self, as bumbles are
essential to pollinate my Brazil nuts,
okra and avocado.Toby celebrates the one plant he would rescue from
the waves if he were ever cast away on a desert island“This valuable herb
is worth its weight
in pieces of eight!”
Wild thyme is also a hit with butterflies- in fact, the rare large blue relies on the
plant for its survival. I found out about
this from my friend, leading entomologist
Dr Ian Bedford, who told me about the
butterfly’s fascinating life cycle. As well
as providing the adults with nectar, wild
thyme is where the butterflies lay their
eggs. When these hatch into caterpillars,
they are immediately abducted by red
ants that take them off to their nests.
At this point in the story, you are
probably expecting cannibalism – but
the ants don’t actually eat the caterpillars.
Instead, they let them graze on their own
grubs in exchange for a sugary secretion
produced on the caterpillars’ backs.
Summer herb secrets...
When the caterpillars pupate and later
hatch into butterflies, the ants take them
out of the nest to a sunny place to dry off
their wings and fly away. On my lonely
atoll, watching the drama of this miracle
unfold would be better than EastEnders.
I know what you’re thinking: thyme
needs neutral/alkaline soil and can’t
survive in crowded borders in Blighty,
let alone the humidity of the tropics. But
on my island of butterflies and botanical
wonders, anything goes. So drop anchor!
You’ll love it, and the kebabs are divine...AFTER flowering, trim thyme, mint and oregano
to keep the plants compact and encourage new
shoots to grow from the base. Then give the roots
a generous water. Trimming rosemary and sage
also makes for bushier plants, and the straight,
flower-free regrowth is excellent material for taking
cuttings. Trim off 5in (12cm) sprigs just below the
lowest bud. Rub the leaves off the lower half, then push
into compost-filled pots spaced with the foliage just touching.
Loosely cover with a clear plastic bag and place on a shaded windowsill.
In a few weeks, they’ll root and be ready for potting on.
All photography Alamy, unless otherwise credited
Wild thyme is a big hit with butterfl ies
like the large blue – as well as working
wonders in a spiced rum daiquiri!lowest bud. Rub the leaves off the lower half, then push
into compost-filled pots spaced with the foliage just touching.
Loosely cover with a clear plastic bag and place on a shaded windowsill.Take cuttings by trimming
off 5in (12cm) sprigsnce upon a thyme...
The clusters of pink
blooms on thyme are
also a great food
source for beesToby Buckland
To b y’s top tips
1
Thyme fails when it is crowded
by neighbours, so plant it in an
open spot or in its own pot.2
Wild or creeping thyme
(Thymus polytrichus) isn’t the
best for flavour. For pots outside
the kitchen, choose common
thyme (T. vulgaris) or lemony
T. citriodorus ‘Variegata’ (pictured).Derek Ramsey / WikicommonsTI Media