Lemon Thyme
Cucumis sativus
Pick at 1½-2½" diameter. This versatile cucumber is sweet and flavorful, and doesn't have much of the chemical that makes other cucumbers bitter and hard to digest. Though often served raw, Lemon is also a good pickling cucumber. Specialty market salad item. NOTE: Very late to begin bearing. USDA Certified Organic.
Harvest
65d
Days to harvest
Sun
White-Tailed Deer
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
8-18 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Lemon Thyme in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 herb →Zone Map
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Lemon Thyme · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | — | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – July | — | July – October |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | — | June – October |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | — | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – June | — | June – November |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | — | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | — | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – April | — | April – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: White-Tailed Deer. Soil: High Organic Matter. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The "vegetable" is botanically a fruit– it is a pepo, a berry with a hard rind. Long and cylindrical, starting out prickly when young and smoothing out to a bumpy surface as it matures. Length and girth can vary based on cultivar and culinary purpose but grow at least 3 in long. Some varieties are bred to be seedless.
Color: Green. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Fruits are commonly eaten raw or pickled. Fresh cucumbers last in the fridge for about a week.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh lemon thyme stores best when kept dry and cool. Wrap harvested stems loosely in paper towels and place in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator, where they'll maintain quality for 7-10 days. Avoid washing until ready to use, as excess moisture causes rapid deterioration.
For drying, harvest stems in mid-morning and bundle small groups with rubber bands. Hang upside down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated area for 1-2 weeks until leaves crumble easily. Strip dried leaves from stems and store in airtight containers away from light for up to one year.
Freezing preserves the bright lemon flavor better than drying. Strip fresh leaves from stems, chop finely, and freeze in ice cube trays covered with olive oil or water. Frozen herb cubes maintain quality for 6-8 months and can be added directly to cooking dishes. Lemon thyme also infuses beautifully in vinegars and oils, creating flavorful condiments that capture the herb's essence.
History & Origin
Origin: Himalaya to Northern Thailand
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Heat
- +Attracts: Bees
- +Edible: Fruits are commonly eaten raw or pickled. Fresh cucumbers last in the fridge for about a week.
- +Fast-growing
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Rosemary
Both Mediterranean herbs with similar water and soil requirements, mutually repel pests
Lavender
Compatible growing conditions, both attract beneficial pollinators and repel moths
Tomatoes
Lemon thyme repels tomato hornworms and aphids while improving tomato flavor
Cabbage
Thyme deters cabbage worms, flea beetles, and other brassica pests
Strawberries
Thyme acts as living mulch and repels slugs, ants, and other strawberry pests
Eggplant
Repels flea beetles and other pests that commonly attack eggplants
Oregano
Similar Mediterranean growing requirements and complementary pest-repelling properties
Sage
Compatible water needs and both deter harmful insects while attracting beneficial ones
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to thyme and most other herbs
Mint
Aggressive spreader that will overwhelm and crowd out thyme plants
Cucumber
Requires much more water than thyme, incompatible moisture needs can stress both plants
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #173470)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good disease resistance when grown in well-drained conditions
Common Pests
Spider mites, aphids in humid conditions
Diseases
Root rot in wet soils, fungal issues in poor drainage