Pizza Thyme: The Best Herb for Italian Night
Little compares to the savory scent of hot pizza in the oven, especially when homemade with garden fresh ingredients. Pizza often features classic herbs like basil, oregano, and arugula, but one lesser-known herb that is an excellent addition to pizza or Italian dishes is Pizza Thyme. Easy to grow and strong in flavor, pizza thyme is the trendy, new plant for every foodie’s home herb garden.
What is Pizza Thyme?
Pizza Thyme is a cultivar of regular culinary thyme, or Thymus vulgaris. This makes it well-suited to a wide variety of culinary purposes, but this dynamic little plant packs an especially powerful punch compared to other varieties of thyme. Featuring strong flavors of both thyme and oregano and a robust aroma, even small amounts of this herb can go a long way. Additionally, its vibrant green foliage and delicate pink blooms make it a beautiful addition, whether its in your garden or on your dinner plate.
Pizza Thyme in the Kitchen
Pizza Thyme is best suited for Italian dishes, whether it’s pizza, pasta, or freshly baked bread. It can be used freshly cut from the garden, or dried and stored for later use. Pizza thyme will also add a great kick to your favorite spice blend for seasoning fish, soups, sauces, or even an herbal butter. The essential oils released in thyme leaves while cooking can also have important health benefits, making this plant an excellent addition to your diet in more ways than one.
How to Grow Pizza Thyme
Thyme is one of the easiest herbs to grow, and this cultivar is certainly no exception. Pizza thyme can thrive planted directly in the ground, raised beds, pots, and even vertical garden containers. This plant takes regular watering (approximately 2-3 deep waterings per week, depending on the weather), and simply needs a light potting soil for success. Thyme thrives in bright locations where the plant will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Herbs do best when they are used regularly, so be sure to harvest sprigs often to encourage lush, new growth, especially when the plant has spent blooms.
Although Pizza Thyme is an excellent ingredient in the kitchen, it is also a fantastic ornamental plant for any part of your landscape. It does well in the bright, warm climate of Southern California, and can make for an excellent groundcover in small spaces and a soft addition to rock gardens. It is also a great companion plant for other fruits, vegetables, and herbs, which means it can help defend other plants against dangerous pests and disease. This plant rarely surpasses 12”x12” in size, making it a dynamic filler for many types of plantings. It also fairs well in short periods of drought once established. When flowering, Pizza Thyme’s cheery pink blooms will add an excellent pop of color to the garden.
Call today to inquire about our current inventory of Pizza Thyme, or chat with an horticulturist about the rest of our tasty herb selection. Roger’s Gardens has all you need to make your next dinner a fresh and flavorful experience.