A: Most likely you are doing nothing wrong; thyme is notorious for being difficult and slow to grow from seed. The easiest thing to do is get it from cuttings or small plants. You can find them at local garden centers are specific times of the year. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), a shrubby perennial herb, is represented by a fairly wide variety of shapes and sizes. Usually, it is a small-growing plant less than 1½ feet tall, with very tiny, one-fourth-inch-long, gray-green leaves. Purplish flowers are formed at the ends of the stems. In Florida, start the plants from seeds sown one-fourth inch deep in the fall or early spring. Space plants 12 inches apart. Replant thyme every three to four years for best growth. To use, remove the top one-third portion of the plant when in full bloom and spread on newspaper in a well-ventilated room to dry. Then, strip the leaves and flowering tops from the stem and store in tightly closed containers. Use on poultry and in stews and soups.

0