Richters ProGrowers Info
Richters ProGrowers Info |
Thyme
(Thymus spp.) |
Market
|
Products: (herb); (herb); (herb);
Market size: 33,000 hectares (world), 2,400 ha (North America)
Prospects: prices stable, volume stable
|
Culture |
Seed density: 3300-4000 seeds/gram
Exposure: full sun
Soil: well-drained, light, fertile to poor, pH 6.5-7
Crop duration: 3-4 years
|
|
Sowing rate: 0.5-1kg/ha (direct), 0.1-0.5kg/ha (indirect).
Planting: sow direct in spring in clean field, or sow in plugs 8-10 weeks before field planting. Winter mulch where lows reach -10 C.
Field spacing: 60-90cm between rows x 10-45cm within rows.
Yield: T. vulgaris fresh herb 5-6t/ha, dry herb 2t/ha (years 1-4).
Pests: tortrix lepidoptera, nematode
Diseases: puccinia rust, aecidium rust, alternaria blight, botrytis gray mold, rhizoctonia root rot.
Buyers want: dry herb minimum 1.2-1.5% volatile oil, 0.5% thymol, maximum 3-15% stem fragments, 2% foreign matter, 10% loss on drying, 10-15% ash.
|
|
Sowing rate: 1-3g/1000plants.
Planting: sow in plugs 12-14 weeks before sale.
Seeds to finished plugs: 6-8 weeks.
Plugs to saleable plants: 4-6 weeks.
Pests: spider mite, scale, mealybug, whitefly
Diseases: few problems.
|
|
|
Dried Production
 
Fresh Production
Oil Production
Potted Plant Production
Back to ProGrower Herb List
|
|