Newsletter: 15th March
Welcoming March at Jekka's
March is always a hopeful month here at the herb farm, the sunrises have been beautiful making the start of our days a delight. With the days getting longer, the greenhouse getting warmer and our herbs reappearing, we are getting excited for the season ahead.
March is the perfect time to begin sowing a wide range of herbs and edible flowers under cover. Jekka's herb garden is a pallete of greens and yellows in early spring so we like to sow a range of bold reds and purple leaved herbs to add to the garden once the soil is warmed. Introducing red and purple to your palette often makes the greens more vivid as they are wonderful complimentary colours.
- Red Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor 'Red Army’) – attractive red leaves companied by stunning seed heads, the grounded seeds are often used as a flour.
- Red Orach (Atriplex hortensis var. rubra) – attractive edible leaves often used like spinach, adds a bit of height later in the season.
- Red Mizuna (Brassica rapa var. japonica 'Red Empire') – colourful leaves with a gentle spicy kick, stunning in the garden and on the plate.
- Purple Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens 'Red Shiraz') – striking deep purple foliage and rich flavour, used in Italian dishes.
- Nasturtium ‘Empress of India’ (Tropaeolum majus 'Empress of India') – deep red flowers with peppery edible leaves, a bold splash of colour.
Need a helping hand getting started? Try Jekka’s Seed Club, which deliver you 5 packets of seeds every month.
From left to right: Red Mizuna, Nasturtium 'Empress of India', and Red Orach
Did you know that we have created Jekka's Seed Sowing Kit which contains everything you need to sow herb seeds at home?
The kit includes biodegradable fibre pots and a bag of Jekka's special peat-free seed compost which we use to sow our own seeds at the herb farm. A small bag of perlite for covering seeds and recycled plant labels.
Simply add your chosen seeds, place them somewhere warm and bright, and enjoy the quiet magic of watching your new seedlings emerge.
A New Chapter: Hortistry
Earlier this year we shared A New Chapter at Jekka’s, outlining how the farm is evolving and we are excited to embark on a the new initiative called Hortistry, dedicated to sharing practical horticultural skills and safeguarding specialist knowledge.
Across the UK many traditional growing skills risk being lost as experienced horticulturists retire. Hortistry brings together professionals to learn directly from one another through small, practical masterclasses focused on real hands-on skills.
We are delighted that Jekka’s will host one of the first Hortistry pilot workshops on Saturday 18th April, where horticultural professionals will rotate through sessions including seed sowing, softwood cuttings and fruit tree grafting.
For more than forty years Jekka has been sharing her horticultural knowledge, so it feels very special to be part of this new chapter in horticulture.
For more information on Hortistry and, for horticultural professionals to register their interest, see the blog linked below.
If you are not a professional; try The Complete Herb Grower master class. One place left!
Jekka’s Myrtle Propagation
Visit Jekka's: 27th & 28th March
We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the herb farm for our first Open Day of the season on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th March 2026.
Our Open Days are a relaxed and friendly occasions, with the opportunity to:
- Wander around Jekka's Herb Garden and Jekka's Herbetum to view our collection of culinary and medicinal herbs.
- Discover unusual varieties and inspiration for your own herb garden.
- Enjoy herb talks with Jekka & gardening expect Mike Palmer, plus our informative herbetum and garden tours.
Whether you are an experienced gardener or just beginning your herb journey, it is always a pleasure to share the herb farm with fellow herb and plant enthusiasts.
Buy your tickets through the link below.
Jekka's Herb Garden
Cultivating flavour, creating experiences.