Spice herbs are fragrant herbs that are indispensable in the kitchen. Most often in the beds you can find umbrellas of annual dill, perennial tarragon and mint. They are part of many dishes, and are also used in the preservation of vegetables. However, along with them, new neighbors have recently begun to appear: fragrant basil, coriander, oregano, cumin, hyssop and lemon balm. And this is not a complete list of herbs that gardeners grow. Savory and thyme will delight you with a pleasant unusual taste and aroma. What is the difference between these plants? Both names are quite similar. These spicy herbs belong to the labiate family and have decorative and medicinal properties. And at the same time, these are two different representatives of the flora, which have many differences.
Garden savory
An annual herbaceous plant reaches a height of thirty to forty centimeters. Savory grass, native to the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, has long been used as a medicine and as an excellent spice.
A strongly branching plant has a stem covered with small hairs, lanceolate, slightly pointed leaves of dark green color. Garden savory is a cross-pollinated plant, an excellent honey plant. Small flowers that are located in the axils of the leaves, purple or pink.
Features of cultivation
The savory will not require a special approach. The cultivation of small-seeded spicy herbs begins with the selection of a plot in the garden. This is a heat-loving plant that prefers well-lit beds.
There will be no problems when choosing soil and a site for savory. This spicy herb does not require a lot of space and special soil fertility. Seeds are sown in early spring. The area before this is pre-leveled and slightly compacted the surface on which the seeds are placed. They should not be buried in the ground. From above, the seeds are mulched with peat and moistened. Covering the crops with agrofiber will help speed up the emergence of seedlings. Grown up young plants can be thinned out and planted in rows, keeping up to twenty-five centimeters between plants.
Care
Garden savory is an undemanding plant. It's easy to take care of him. Simple agricultural practices will suffice. It will require regular moistening and loosening of the soil, as well as the removal of weeds. Savory seeds ripen at the end of August. To avoid their rash, the plant is removed from the ground along with the root. They are then hung up to dry. At the same time, paper bags are put on the flower stalks. When the plants dry out, theythreshed and crushed.
Thyme: description
The plant known as Bogorodskaya grass - thyme, or thyme, has been known to people since ancient times. This is a perennial shrub. Its stem spreads along the surface of the earth, forming a continuous bright green carpet. Opposite leaves, which are rich in essential oils, are very small. They are oval in shape. There are many flower-bearing branches on the stem. Thyme has fragrant, miniature, pink or lilac flowers.
Thyme is harvested in July and August. The fruits appear on the plant after flowering. It lasts from May to September. The plant has good winter hardiness.
Landing
When choosing a site, it should be noted that Bogorodskaya grass (thyme) loves a lot of light and dry sandy soils. It is grown in different ways. It can be seedling, vegetative options, as well as seed propagation. Seedlings are grown from March to April. They are moved to open ground in mid-May. Sowing seeds is carried out in a tape way. Seed consumption per square meter is 0.7 g. They are planted to a depth of at least 5 mm. After the shoots grow a little, they are thinned out. The distance between the bushes should be at least 30 cm, and the row spacing - 40 cm.
You can grow both savory and thyme in seedlings. What is the difference between them? First of all, savory is an annual, while thyme is a perennial plant. When landing, this conditionshould be considered. Thyme can be propagated by dividing the bush after growth. Before planting, the soil is pre-prepared. After choosing a site, it should be dug up and organic fertilizers applied. For this, humus is suitable. Mineral supplements will also be useful, which have a beneficial effect on the growth and normal development of the plant.
Care
For the successful cultivation of thyme, agrotechnics should be strictly observed. First of all, excessive wetting of the bushes should not be allowed. Therefore, watering should be moderate. If the site is shaded and not protected from drafts, the plant will be weak and prone to disease. The soil cover should be loose and free of weeds. Planted seedlings are fed twice a season. The first application of fertilizers occurs in the spring, and the second - after the first harvest during the period of mass flowering. It should be noted that fresh manure cannot be used for top dressing.
Savory and thyme. What are the differences and similarities?
Throughout the summer season, spicy flowering shoots are harvested and used fresh. For blanks, savory is cut during mass flowering. The properties of the plant allow this event to be carried out throughout the entire vegetative period due to the formation of side shoots.
This plant has been used for a long time. It is often confused with thyme. However, these two different plants are slightly similar in taste and aroma. Savory and thyme are distinguished by a high content of essential oils. What is the difference between these herbs? First of all, each of themits unique aroma and taste. In savory, it is rich, bitter-spicy, which is strongly pronounced during heat treatment. This aromatic seasoning should be used with extreme moderation. It is used in the preparation of heavy meals. The combination of savory and basil can replace s alt and pepper.
Thyme is a spicy plant that has a delicate aroma and a sharp, spicy, slightly bitter taste, both fresh and cooked. It will be useful in a salad or preparations for the winter.
Both spicy herbs are not only a good seasoning for various dishes. Since ancient times, they have been used by healers as a medicinal potion. Savory contains a large amount of not only essential oil, but also vitamins and trace elements. This is a great antiseptic. It is a raw material for the production of essential oils used in aromatherapy. Savory has high antioxidant properties. The plant is used as a prophylactic agent for aging and oncology. Thanks to its refined aroma, it has found application in perfumery.
Thyme has a high content of flavonoids and resins, which give the plant a bitter taste. In addition to them, organic acids and vitamins, as well as tannins, are contained. This herb is widely used in folk and official medicine. It has a beneficial effect on almost the entire human body. Thyme is part of many herbal preparations, as well as ointments, baths and compresses. They are used in the treatment of various ailments as an anesthetic,anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent. It is a wonderful stimulant that will be useful in stressful situations and depression.
Using Savory and Thyme: Herbes de Provence
The collection of plants containing essential oils gives culinary dishes a unique aroma and taste. Herbes de Provence is a mixture of certain herbs. It includes: thyme (thyme) and savory, rosemary and marjoram, basil and sage, peppermint, oregano.
The most valuable among them is thyme. Raw materials for this seasoning are collected during the period of mass flowering of plants. Stems and flowers are harvested, dried and crushed. This mixture of herbs creates a unique composition that combines a large number of useful substances. It has a wonderful aroma, culinary and medicinal qualities. Provencal herbs, which certainly include savory and thyme, give dishes a unique taste and at the same time help to increase appetite and improve the digestibility of food.
