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

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