German Winter

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add German Winter to a garden.

Breathe in the unmistakable, cool-minty fragrance of German Winter thyme—an evergreen, winter-hardy favorite that deepens in character as the season turns.

Its tiny leaves are richly aromatic and hold a fine, resilient texture, making it a steadfast garden performer from first planting through long, chilly weather. Grow German Winter thyme for bold herbal flavor in dried bundles and fresh sprigs, and let its hardy presence anchor your kitchen garden year-round.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 365 DaysHabit: Upright

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German Winter Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Apr 20th	Jun 15th	Jun 15th – Jul 15th
Zone 1b	Apr 6th	Jun 1st	Jun 1st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Mar 30th	May 25th	May 25th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	May 15th	May 15th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	May 15th	May 15th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	May 19th	May 19th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	May 15th	May 15th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	May 13th	May 13th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	May 8th	May 8th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	May 4th	May 4th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	May 1st	May 1st – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Apr 25th	Apr 25th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Apr 20th	Apr 20th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	Apr 10th	Apr 10th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	Apr 1st	Apr 1st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	Mar 23rd	Mar 23rd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	Mar 6th	Mar 6th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	Feb 9th	Feb 9th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	365
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

German Winter thyme tastes like the season itself: cool-minty on the front, then earthy and resinous with leaves that stay firm instead of collapsing. It’s built for long heat—dried rubs and slow reductions turn that aroma into a steady, savory backbone.

Best Uses

fresh-sprig finishing on roasted chicken, pork, and mushrooms
drying and rubbing into slow-roast and braise blends
stirring into pan sauces for a clean, aromatic snap
steeping into broth or stock before reducing for a thyme-forward base

Flavor Profile

cool-minty herbal lift earthy, savory thyme-resin character tiny-leaf concentration with a resilient, slightly woody bite

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic chives olive oil mushrooms roasted chicken white wine

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Thymus vulgaris (German winter thyme), and how do I treat it?

The most common problem is root rot from overly wet soil, often showing up as wilting plus dark, mushy roots. Plant German winter thyme in fast-draining soil and water only when the top 1 inch is dry; if you see rotting plants, lift and discard affected starts and avoid replanting in the same spot. Another frequent issue is leaf spot—remove infected stems promptly and keep airflow high by not crowding plants.

How often should I water German winter thyme during its main growing season?

In the active growing months, water deeply only when the top 1 inch of soil has dried, which is often about 1 time per week depending on your weather. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is drought-tolerant once established, so avoid daily light watering that keeps the root zone constantly wet. During cooler months, reduce watering further and rely more on rainfall unless pots dry out quickly.

How can I tell when German winter thyme is ready to harvest?

Harvest once plants are well established and have multiple healthy stems—typically after about 8–12 weeks from transplant, then again as it grows through the year. Pick when leaves are fully formed and fragrant, usually just before flowering, and snip stems back to just above a set of leaves. If you want the best flavor for winter use, do a light harvest before heavy cold while new growth is still vigorous.