Question
Hi!
I am planning to have thyme magic carpet in my front yard, i heard it's easy to grow and it grow low which is what i want.  
how much seeds do i need if i am starting from seeds?  the area is about 250 sq ft.  
i am trying to buy plants but can't find it.
please give some advice on how to sow the seed too. thank you.
min

Answer
Greetings, Min,


Thyme Magic Carpet sounds like a wonderful choice for your space. Once it抯 established it needs very little effort on your part. Better yet, it self-sows like mad, since it drops seed after the flowering season and those dropped seeds sprout the next spring. And late spring or early fall is the best time to plant it, so your timing is perfect.

You will need quite a bit of seed. It is my understanding that 500 seeds will cover ten square feet. I have utilized seeds from Swallowtail, which has 100 seeds for $1.99. I find that it has great germination rates, and is very reliable. I think that you would find buying plants to cover the area far more expensive than buying seed.

http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/thymeper.html

To start it from seed:

Make sure your site has well drained soil. I assume you have plenty of sun. Make sure that it is weed free (no competition!!!)

Spread a layer of something that is nice to plant in. It should be at least an inch ?a little more is better. You can use compost mixed with seed starting mix or potting soil. Make sure the compost is well rotted.

Since the seeds are teeny tiny, it can be useful to mix them with a fine sand, or even mix them with your  mix if it is fine enough to use.

Moisten your soil once it is down.  The seeds need light to germinate, and they are so fine it is better to press them into damp (not wet!) ground. They will adhere better, and you will not wash them away when you water. You can cover them with a bit more of your mix, but you should be able to see them.  Since they are tiny, I personally prefer to just press them into damp soil.
When you do water (and you will need to keep them moist) use a fine spray mix.

Do keep them moist.

When they start to sprout, give them a seed fertilizer or any fertilizer with a low nitrogen balance. If you can find something along the lines of 3-15-15 or 3-18-18 that is ideal.

You can start now because the seeds require overnight temperatures over 40 degrees. As long as you have 8-10 weeks before frost, you can go ahead and start.

Is this clear? Have I answered your questions?  If not, please feel free to ask me to clarify what I have written.

Regards,

Donna