Jekka McVicar is a world-renowned herb expert, an author, designer and consultant judge. And along with her RHS Gold winning accolades she also has the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) and won the Garden Media Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Jekka and her family run Jekka's Herb Farm in South Gloucestershire where they cultivate more than 400 different types of herbs for culinary, medicinal and horticultural uses. As the UK's first Herbetum there is always something happening at Jekka's, from masterclasses to discovery days for businesses and families. They also supply many of their herbs by mail order.
How have you been in these ever-changing times?
It's been a very long couple of years, especially as in January 2021 the Government decided to close nurseries but keep garden centres open. This meant all nurseries lost another Easter, which is our busiest month as it is the time everyone starts gardening.
We were lucky as we had just revamped our website, rebranded the business and improved how we were seen on Google.
This meant we were able to sell seeds, seed kits, herbal infusions and illustrated gifts online via mail order while the herb farm was closed to visitors.
What basic herbs would you recommend for anyone to grow to start their own burgeoning herb patch?
I always start with asking: “What food do you cook?" as it is important to grow what you will use. For example, if you enjoy making the classic Sunday roast, which consists of roast veg, meat and sometimes fish, then you need to grow herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, dill and fennel.
The reason you should grow herbs you use is firstly, it will give you pleasure to eat something you have nurtured and secondly, by using your herbs, you are maintaining them. This is because, to keep them under control, you must pick or prune them.
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Denne historien er fra May 2022-utgaven av Kitchen Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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SEPTEMBER SPECIALS
This month, with sweetcorn, figs and blackberries on the menu, Anna Cairns Pettigrew is not only serving up something sweet and something savoury, but all things scrumptious
FLAVOURSOME FRUIT AUTUMN RASPBERRIES
September - is it late summer or the start of autumn? David Patch ponders the question and says whatever the season, it's time to harvest autumn raspberries
SOW GREEN THIS AUTUMN
Covering the soil with a green manure in winter offers many benefits and this is a good time to sow hardy types, says KG editor Steve Ott
A HISTORICAL HAVEN OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS
KG's Martin Fish takes time out from his own plot to visit a walled garden in Lincolnshire which has been home to the same family for more than 400 years
RESTORING THE BALANCE
The phrase regenerative gardening is often heard in gardening circles, but what is it? Can it help you to grow better veg? Ecologist Becky Searle thinks so, and tells us why
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Garden Organic's Anton Rosenfeld shares his expertise on using compost made from green bin collections with handy tips on getting the right consistency and quality
Celebrating Organic September!
In this special section we bring you four great features aimed at improving your crops and allowing nature to thrive
SEEING RED
Do your tomatoes have a habit of remaining stubbornly green? Or perhaps you're lucky to enjoy lots of lovely fruits - just all at once. Either way, Benedict Vanheems is here with some top tips to ripen and process the nation's favourite summer staple
NEW KIDS ON THE BROCCOLI!
Rob Smith is talking broccoli this month with a review of the different types available and suggestions for some exciting new varieties to try
A NEW kitchen garden
Martin Fish is getting down to plenty of picking and planting on the garden veg plot, while Jill is rustling up something pepper-licking good!
