Plant a thyme wheel

Thyme is pretty, aromatic, has many uses – and will make a perfect centrepiece to your herb garden

Thyme is amongst the smallest evergreen herbs, growing in dense mats. Provided it’s grown in free-draining soil that’s not rich in nutrients, it establishes easily in containers, as a path edging or in cracks in paving. In ancient in times, it was used by Egyptians embalming oil and incense. It also has strong antiseptic properties.

What you will need plants

■ Varieties: Pink-flowered ‘Creeping Red’; ‘Doone Valley’; ‘Silver Posie’; ‘Russettings’; common thyme; pine-scented thyme; golden thyme and lemon thyme.

OTHER Materials

■ Circular tub with drainage holes

■ Salvaged wheel

■ Gravel

■ Potting compost

5 Continue to plant each variety in the remaining gaps.

4 Plant your first thyme in a gap between the spokes.

2 Fill tub with peat-free potting compost, such as John Innes No 1.

3 Place the salvaged wheel on top of the compost.

1 Drill holes in base of tub, and cover with a layer of gravel to aid drainage.

You’ll have a thyme variety to match every culinary need!

6 Label each of the plants clearly, using indelible ink.

7 Water the plants well to help them bed in and settle.