When to Plant Thyme in Lidderdale, Iowa (51452)

Location

Lidderdale, Iowa

ZIP Code

51452

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Sunday, May 10, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Transplant Outdoors

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Based on last frost Sunday, May 10, 2026 · Zone 5a

Pro tip: Start Thyme seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Sunday, May 24, 2026.

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Thymus vulgaris

Days to Maturity 90 days

Mature Height 6-12"

Spread 12"

Type Ground cover

Fruit Size N/A

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6+ hours)

💧

Water

Low (drought tolerant)

↔️

Spacing

12" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.125" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 14-21 days

Ready to Plant Thyme in Lidderdale?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Sunday, March 15, 2026.

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🤝 Good Companions

CabbageEggplantPotatoStrawberry

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Thyme

See which plants help Thyme thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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Common Thyme Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Common Thyme

species

Classic culinary thyme with small, fragrant leaves; essential in French cooking.

Lemon Thyme

cultivar

Bright citrus-scented thyme with golden-edged leaves; lovely in fish dishes and teas.

Creeping Thyme

species

Low-growing groundcover thyme with dense mats of tiny flowers; great between pavers.

French Thyme

cultivar

Broader-leaved variety with milder, sweeter flavor preferred in Provençal cooking.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟡 Moderate

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Harvest tiny seed pods when brown and dry — just before they shatter.

Processing

Strip dried stems over a fine mesh, dry extra 2 days, store in small envelopes. Seeds are very tiny.

Seed Viability

Up to 3 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Thyme seeds can vary in flavor intensity. Propagate from stem cuttings to preserve culinary quality.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 32 plants of Thyme. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Thyme in Lidderdale, Iowa? +

In Lidderdale (Zone 5a), start Thyme seeds indoors around Sunday, March 15, 2026 and transplant outdoors around Sunday, May 24, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Lidderdale, Iowa? +

The average last spring frost date for Lidderdale, Iowa (ZIP 51452) is around Sunday, May 10, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 5a.

How long does Thyme take to grow? +

Thyme typically matures in about 90 days from transplanting. In Lidderdale, that means you can expect harvest around Sunday, May 24, 2026 plus 90 days.

Should I start Thyme indoors or direct sow in Iowa? +

Thyme should be started indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date. In Lidderdale, that means starting around Sunday, March 15, 2026.

📚 More Thyme Planting Guides

🗺️

Thyme in Iowa

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 5a Thyme Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Lidderdale

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Thyme in Zone 5a

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a popular garden vegetable. In Lidderdale, Iowa, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a, you should start seeds indoors around Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Your average last frost date is Sunday, May 10, 2026. Plan to transplant your Thyme seedlings outdoors around Sunday, May 24, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.