Early Spring in Jekka’s Herb Garden – Jekka’s top 10 favourite herbs

Saffron is our love affair; a culinary crescendo that evokes a warmth of its own. But cooking is so much more than a single ingredient — it’s also about respect. It’s about respecting people from different cultures who dedicate their lives to creating something extraordinary with every dish they serve; family meals or five-star restaurants alike.

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Our glasshouse is buzzing with activity at this time of the year, as we prepare for our new season. We are propagating, sowing seeds and potting. We are also excited to see the new growth in Jekka’s Herb Garden, which signals the arrival of spring. Spring is in the air with our Song Thrush singing to us while we weed Jekka’s Herbetum

Each year, our seasons are different. This year was a milder and wetter winter than the year before. We record weather and temperatures at Jekka's Herb Farm every day. This year, the light levels have been better and our herbs are appearing earlier than usual. Our herbaceous plants are coming out of their hibernation. Jekka's Herb Garden looks fresh and green with the new growth of flavoursome leaves along side our evergreen herbs.

This blog will document the top 10 herbs that have been providing colour and flavor to our garden in early spring. You can read more about Jekka’s Herb Garden by reading the blogs that cover the garden during spring, late-summer and fall. There is also a timeline to follow its development.

10 top spring herbs in Jekka's Herb Garden:

1. Tree Onion (Allium x proliferum)

The bulbs of this wonderful plant are formed at the top and the stems gently curve downwards in the autumn. You can see the bulbs growing into the soil at this time of the year. You can use the new stems in salads as an alternative to spring onions.

Want to learn more? Check out Jekka's blog for all the details about Alliums.

2. Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum)

Wild garlic leaves are rapidly reappearing in our garden. They provide us with ingredients to make pesto and potato-salads. The flavour of the young leaves is unbeatable.

3. Celery Leaf (Apium graveolens)

It is a wild celery that self-seeds in the garden. In early spring, it produces fresh salad leaves which are great in Jekka’s Spring Herb flat breads. This celery is great in soups, which we have been using a lot this month.

Celery Leaf (Apium graveolens)

4. Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)

This herb's structural leaves provide much-needed colour and texture in early spring.

5. Italian Marjoram (Origanum x majoricum)

The perennial Marjoram adds a lot of flavour to your dishes. This perennial Marjoram is similar to the annual Sweet Marjoram. It is hardy, and its leaves have a lovely aroma.

Do you want to learn more? Read Jekka’s Guide to Oregano.

6. Kerosene bush (Ozothamnus Hookeri) HTML0

Our evergreen herb that adds interesting texture and colour. The burning bush is a South African plant.

Kerosene bush (Ozothamnus Hookeri)

7. Broad Leafed Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)

A lemony salad herb that is perfect for early spring. This herb also makes a delicious soup that is served cold.

8. Jekka's Blue Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus 'Jekka's Blue')

Rosemary's are blooming in Jekka's Herbetum, and especially Jekka's Blue Rosemary. It is covered with buds and has already started to flower. Rosemary is the first family to bloom and provide color from February to May. Our honey bees will appreciate the colour as they awaken from their winter sleep.

Do you want to learn more? Read Jekka’s Guide to Rosemary.

9. Salad Burnett (Sanguisorba minor)

It tastes like nutty cucumber. Early spring, the leaves are covered with morning dew and look beautiful.

10. Thymus "Culinary lemon"

Evergreen herbs are a must for any culinary garden. Our thymes have already begun to grow, making them perfect for cooking with winter dishes or roast vegetables.

We hope that you will be inspired to create or refresh your own herb garden.

Do you want to know more about?

Jekka’s offers a wealth material on the design and planting of culinary herb gardens. Additional Guides and blogs that may also be helpful are:

• Jekka’s Guide to Growing Herbs
• Jekka’s Guide to Being a Sustainable Herb Grower
• Jekka’s Tips for Planting a Culinary-Herb Garden
• Jekka’s Advice on Growing Herbs In Containers
• Marcus Wareing's Herb Kitchen Garden
• Jekka’s Riverstone culinary herb garden

Jekka’s blog, past newsletters, videos, Jekka’s new book, ‘100 Herbs To Grow’, Jekka’s other books (such as 'A Pocketful Of Herbs', or Jekka’s Complete Herb Book), and Jekka’s Jekkapedia are all great places to learn more about herbs.

Jekka's Herbs of the Month Blogs: Bay (January), Rosemary, (February), Salad burnet (March), French Tarragon, (April), Angelica, (May), Alliums June), Lavender July), Basil August), Mint September), Szechuan pepper (October), Thyme November and Curry Tree December.

Visit the herb farm at South Gloucestershire during one of our Open Days or Master Classes (see our Events Calendar).

Check out Jekka’s How to Grow Herbs video series and ‘Jekka’s Seasonal Tips’ blog series for advice on how to grow and maintain herbs. These include what to do in your garden in the early spring, the late spring, the summer, and in autumn and winter. Jekka's guide to growing herbs is based on these videos and blog posts.

You can order herb plants and collect them from our herb farm located in South Gloucestershire, or you can attend one of our Open Days (see our event calendar) or Herb Experiences. You can check our 'Looking Good List,' or send us an email ([email protected]) with your list. There is no longer a mail order service available for our plants. However, we offer a limited number of Jekka’s Culinary Herb Boxes ..

Frequently Asked Questions

Which spices from the kitchen are used to cure diseases?

There are more than 4000 medicinal plants that are widely distributed throughout the world. Some of these plants contain active compounds that may help treat various ailments.

In India alone, there are more than 1000 species of herbs that are used for medical purposes. This includes Ayurvedic medicine, Unani medicine, Siddha medicine, Homeopathic medicine, and Chinese medicine.

The most common ingredient found in these medicines is ginger. Ginger contains volatile oils that give it its aromatic flavor. These oils contain anti-inflammatory properties that make them useful against arthritis, fever, vomiting, and indigestion.

Ginger also helps relieve nausea and stomach cramps caused due to pregnancy. Pregnant women often consume ginger tea to reduce morning sickness. Ginger is also commonly used for cough and cold relief.

Another spice that is known to have medicinal value is turmeric. Turmeric contains curcumin which has been shown to inhibit tumor growth. This makes it an effective cancer treatment.

Turmeric is also considered to be very beneficial for joint health. It relieves inflammation and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It is also believed to prevent osteoporosis.

Garlic, too, is another herb that is extensively used in traditional medicine. Its healing qualities include treating infections, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes and even reducing cholesterol levels. Garlic oil is also used to treat wounds and insect bites.

Garlic is a natural antibiotic that fights bacteria and viruses. The antibacterial property makes it ideal for treating respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

It is also helpful in preventing urinary tract infections.

Other spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, black pepper, ginger, cayenne, mustard seeds, fennel, and coriander are also used to treat different illnesses.

Is it okay to use dried herbs instead of fresh ones?

It is best to pick up fresh herbs whenever possible when using herbs.

Although dried herbs are convenient, they don’t provide the same benefits as fresh herbs.

Fresh herbs contain essential oils that give your food a unique flavor. These oils help preserve the nutrients within the herb.

Dried herbs lose all their flavor after drying, so they cannot replace fresh herbs.

You should only use dried herbs if you absolutely must. Otherwise, you should get your fresh herbs from the market.

How do you make medicinal herbs?

There are many different methods to make herbs into medicinal products. The most common method is to dry the herbs in a warm, dark location before grinding them into a powder or extracting their essential oils. This can be accomplished by hanging herbs upside down in bunches, laying herbs on a drying screen, or using a food dehydrator.

Once dried and ground, herbs can be stored in airtight containers for future use. Other herbs may require special preparation, such as infusing herbs into oil or vinegar, making tinctures with alcohol, or distilling herbs to create essential oils.

Learning the correct techniques for preparing herbs can help ensure that they retain their medicinal properties and potency for optimal health benefits. Using fresh herbs is usually best, but herbs can also be grown in a pot or garden and harvested when they are mature. Herbs can be purchased at health food stores, online retailers, and specialty shops.

No matter where herbs come from, the preparation techniques remain the same; drying herbs in a warm location followed by grinding or extracting the essential oils. You can make your medicinal herbs with the right herbs and preparation techniques.

When making herbal preparations, it is essential to remember that herbs can vary in potency, so always dilute herbs before use or follow the directions on any product label. Additionally, herbs are best used fresh, as many of their beneficial components degrade over time.

Following safety guidelines and paying attention to the potency of herbs can help ensure that you get the most benefit from your herbs. With a bit of practice and preparation, anyone can make therapeutic herbs with medicinal properties. Remember that herbs should never replace any medical advice or treatments prescribed by a doctor. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before using herbs medicinally.

Statistics

• Studies have shown that cinnamon can lower fasting blood sugars by 10-29% in diabetic patients, which is a significant amount (9Trusted Source10Trusted (healthline.com)
• For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplementation appears to reduce total and/or LDL cholesterol by about 10-15% (72Trusted Source73Trusted (healthline.com)

External Links

[TAG20]

• Amazon.com: Starwest Botanicals Organic Bilberries Whole, 4 Ounces: Grocery & Gourmet Food

[TAG22]

• Detoxification and antioxidant effects of curcumin in rats experimentally exposed to mercury - Agarwal - 2010 - Journal of Applied Toxicology - Wiley Online Library

[TAG24]

• Peppermint oil (Mintoil®) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial


• Curcumin reverses the effects of chronic stress on behavior, the HPA axis, BDNF expression, and phosphorylation of CREB

[TAG27]

• Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Ginkgo Biloba for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - IOS Press

How To

How to use herbs safely?

Many people think that herbs should only be used under medical supervision because they believe that some herbs are poisonous. However, this is not true.

Many herbs have long histories of safe use. For example, garlic has been used for thousands of years to fight infections. It's also been shown to lower cholesterol levels and reduce high blood pressure.

However, if you're pregnant or nursing, avoid taking certain herbs. You should also avoid them if you suffer from allergies or sensitivities to herbs.

You can do several things to ensure you get the best results from your herbs and supplements. First, always read labels before consuming anything containing herbs or spices. Second, take the lowest dose recommended on the label. Third, don't use more than one supplement at any given time. Fourth, talk to your doctor about how to combine specific herbs and supplements. Finally, keep track of your consumption to know whether you need to adjust your dosage.

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