Thyme and Their Flowers

Question

My thyme is very strong and hearty, and some of the plants have pretty little lavender flowers at the tops. Do the flowers hurt the herb? Do I need to cut the tops and the flowers off to make sure the thyme is usable for cooking, or can I just leave the flowers and still use the herbs?

Answer 1

Although some people leave them be, as the flowers do not harm plants in any way, they are generally removed. At the first sign of flowering, prune the flowers off to encourage fresh stems and foliage for use in the kitchen. This artilce will help as well: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/thyme/tips-for-growing-thyme-in-your-garden.htm