Newsletter: 10th August
Prepare to sow your late summer and autumn herbs.
At this time of year we start preparing both the ground and our raised beds for direct sowing of our herbs. We will be sowing at the end of August/ beginning of September when the soil is beautifully warm and forecast of rain is on the horizon.
The herbs we sow are a staple of our every day cooking and we like to harvest a lot, so we tend to sow them in rows to produce a healthy crop. Sowing the seeds direct when the soil is warm helps with germination and they will germinate in days rather than weeks. When you sow direct you will notice that you will produce a stronger crop as many of them are part of the carrot family so prefer not to have their roots disturbed.
These herbs also benefit from the wet weather and will happily survive our English winters, providing a continuous delicious crop throughout the year.
The top 5 herbs we will be sowing now for autumn harvest are:
- Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium), Hardy biennial, Ht. up to 60cm, spread 25cm. It has light green, feathery leaves that have a slightly anise flavour and a great source of vitamins and minerals. This herb was introduced into England by the Romans.
- Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Hardy annual, Ht. up to 60cm, spread 20cm. The flowers, seeds, leaves and roots are edible. This herb can be traced back thousand of years to the Egyptian era.
- French Parsley (Petroselinum crispum 'French'), Hardy biennial, Ht up to 60cm, spread 30cm. Another historical herb that has been around since records began. It is one of the most beneficial herbs that helps clear toxins from the body and is well known for its digestive properties.
- Winter Purslane, Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), Hardy annual, Ht. 30cm, spread 15cm. Large succulent green leaves, surrounded by small white flowers. The whole plant is edible, the leaves taste like mange-tout and great in salads.
- Wild Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), Hardy perennial, often grown as an annual, Ht. 30cm, spread 15cm. Bright yellow 4-petalled flowers, with green, deeply divided aromatic leaves. The peppery flavour of the leaves will be more intense when grown direct in the garden as the herb benefits from minerals it obtains from the soil.
Want to sow some herbs this summer? Try Jekka's Grow At Home Autumn Herb Kit
From left to right: Chervil, Coriander & French Parsley
We are very lucky at our Herb farm that, having grown our herbs following organic methods for over 40 years, our plants make a wonderful habitat for pollinators. Visitors are always amazed by how many bumble bees and butterflies are living in our garden, so as the press report the declining numbers of bumble bees, we are proud to see many bees enjoying our herbs.
However, it has been an interesting year for weather, and we are a month ahead with our flowering plants. Our Oreganos, which usually flower in August, are already going over. But there is still plenty of food, and the herbs that are covered in bees this week are the Lavender Intermediates, in particular the Old English Lavender, all of our Mints, Winter Savory and Lesser Calamint.
Don't miss our last open days of the year on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th September.
As the gardening season draws to an end and you prepare your garden for the Autumn, join us to learn about evergreen herbs and how to look after your mints.
Our Open days are a wonderful opportunity to visit the Herb Farm, explore Jekka’s Herbetum and Herb Garden, and meet our knowledgeable team, who will be on hand to help with plant purchases and offer guidance for your own herb-growing journey.
The day is split into two segments with guided tours around Jekka's Herbetum and a Herb Talk by Jekka, included with each ticket.
Cultivating flavour, creating experiences.