The series was created by producer Brian Eastman specifically to entertain his wife, Christabel Albery, who is a keen gardener.

The show's title is taken from the English poem/ballad 'Scarborough Fayre', which lists rosemary and thyme among its herbs.

Clive Exton, who co-created the show, wrote 10 of the series' 22 scripts.

Aside from stars Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris, only Ryan Philpott and Daisy Dunlop appeared in more than one episode, playing Laura Thyme's children Matthew and Helena.

On 12 May 2006, ITV announced the show was being axed as part of a major overhaul of ITV1's schedule.

Because of the cancellation, the final two episodes of series three, 'Racquet Espanol' and 'Enter Two Gardeners', were held back and not broadcast with the rest of the series in 2005–06, only airing later on 30 July and 6 August 2007.

The series spawned three official novelisations credited to creator Brian Eastman but actually ghostwritten by crime writer Rebecca Tope, published by Allison and Busby in Britain and Hardie Grant Books in Australia.

The incidental music and opening theme for the first two series were composed and conducted by Christopher Gunning, with the theme performed by guitarist John Williams, and later released on CD.