According to that most reliable source of information - the World Wide Web - the general rule of using herbs in cooking is - if in doubt use thyme. So if there's one herb every edible garden needs, it's this one.
Already got a patch of this hardy perennial at your back door? Well, have you tried pizza thyme or lemon thyme, or one of the other 100 different species? Or why not grow the low-growing carpet variety amongst bricks or crazy paving for a scented, soft path you can walk over.
Now I've convinced you to plant thyme, all you need to do is pop down to your local supermarket, Bunnings, or the Warehouse to grab some seedlings. Alternatively, head to our online store.
We sell thyme in both our Traditional Value and Pop'n'Grow ranges. Both seedling ranges are grown with strong individual root systems. But Pop'n'Grow seedlings are perfect for beginners and kids, because they're packaged in strong biodegradable pots that protect the roots, making them guaranteed to grow.
And, Traditional Value seedlings are perfect for the budget-conscious gardener because the seedlings are wrapped in recycled newspaper, so the value is in the plants and not the packaging.
Once you've selected your seedlings you need to find a well-drained, sunny spot to plant them. Don't have much of a garden? Never fear, thyme grows well in pots, hanging baskets, planters or walls with soil, such as a retaining wall.
I'm also a fan of planting it in the corners of my vege garden which can't be filled by a more substantial plant.
When you've found the perfect place to plant, dig into the soil a general fertiliser, such as nitrophoska blue, and plant your seedlings. Don't worry about the fertiliser if you're planting in pots or a hanging basket - just use a good quality potting mix instead.
And that's all there is to it. You can harvest your thyme straight away but it's best to give it some time to get established. The longer you leave it, the more leaves you'll have to harvest later on.