Thyme This is a classic strongly-flavoured herb ideal with meat, fish and eggs. Sow indoors from February to May. A warm kitchen windowsill is all you need for starting these seeds. Sow thinly, 0.5cm deep, in small pots of compost. Water well and place in a warm position. A temperature of 15-20°C is ideal. Keep moist. Seedlings usually appear in 14-28 days. Transplant seedlings individually to 8cm pots, when large enough to handle. Grow on in cooler, but not cold conditions. Gradually accustom plants to outside conditions, avoiding frosts, before planting out, 25cm apart, from May to July, into warm, well-drained soil. Give cloche protection in autumn to allow picking into winter. Harvest from March to November. Pick the fresh leaves and tender shoots as required. Thyme can also be dried and stores well. Cut off the flowering shoots to retain the best flavour.