Jekka's small culinary herb garden designs

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Herbs are in vogue, which is wonderful news for the pollinators! As a result, we are frequently being asked for planting plans for small gardens or raised beds. Unfortunately, due to the size of our team this is not something we can provide for all enquiries. Therefore, we have written a series of blogs for the sustainable gardener to provide a good starting point. This blog focuses on the small herb garden, which would be ideal for a town house, allotment or area in the garden which you would like to grow some herbs.

Want to know more? Try Jekka's Garden Design Master Class (sign up to our newsletter to be told when it is scheduled as it is very popular!)

Some additional Guides and Blogs that might also help are:

• Jekka's Guide on How to Grow Herbs
• Jekka's Guide to being a Sustainable Herb Gardener
• Jekka' Tips to Planting a Culinary Herb Garden
• Jekka's Advice on Growing Herbs in Containers
• Marcus Wareing's Herb Kitchen Garden
• Jekka's Riverstone culinary kitchen herb garden

Please also read about Jekka's Herb Garden that we are building at Jekka's Herb Farm in South Gloucestershire. This has been designed to help you build a herb garden at home.

We were also featured on Marcus Wareing's BBC 2 series and you can read about his Jekka's Herb Garden as well as see his garden plan in our blog here.

Basic Herb Garden Design Principals

Jekka always starts by trying to understand what you wish to use herbs for and encourages you to only grow what you will use in your kitchen. For example, there is no point in trying to grow Coriander if you cannot stand the taste! However, if you are a fan of Rocket Pesto, then maybe only one plant is not enough.

Secondly, you need to consider the position of your plot and try to either reproduce the conditions and environment of the herb's natural environment, which is typically Mediterranean, or plant for the conditions of the bed (check out Jekka's blog on her top 10 herbs for sun, semi-shade, dry & damp conditions). For small gardens, if you have heavy soil, you should add some horticultural grit and compost to break up the ground and improve drainage.

Thirdly, you need to consider the maintenance of your garden, whether that is pruning your perennials, removing your annuals or harvesting seeds for the subsequent year. Therefore, having good access and space around your plants is preferable. We have various guides on maintaining your garden in early spring, late spring, summer and autumn & winter as well as Jekka's pruning videos.

Fourthly, you need to think about watering and feeding your garden. In the growing season we recommend feeding on Friday. F for Feed and F for Friday. For the busy gardener, you might wish to consider installing leaky hoses on a timer. For feed, we recommend Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed.

Finally, you do not need to do everything all at once as sometimes it is better to slowly build out your herb garden to see what works and what doesn't. This allows you to also budget your garden.

Jekka's top tip is to check out your neighbour's garden and see what is growing there and what you like.

RHS Hampton Court Flower Show Exhibit,
for which we received our second Tudor Award in 2008

Designing your herb garden

If you are new to garden design and do not already have an idea of how you wish to lay out your herb garden a good starting point is to divide your herbs into beds, arranged symmetrically around a central point. This follows the approach of traditional monastery gardens and how Jekka teaches on her Garden Design Master Class and how she is designing Jekka's Herb Garden.

You can find the spread and height of the herbs in Jekkapedia, our online encyclopaedia of herbs, or in Jekka's Pocketful of Herbs. As a rough guide, a spacing of 30-45 cm between plants is a good estimate and will allow you to work out quantities.

For a new herb garden, a good starting point would be to put a feature plant, such as an upright Rosemary in the centre and then surround it by a tall flowering plant, such as Chives (both garlic and normal). Then you can plant Creeping/Upright Thymes or Oreganos along the borders and Sages or Prostrate Rosemary's in the corners.

We recommend not over planting to start and allowing your herbs to naturally grow and fill the space. Only then fill in the gaps with additional herbs.

Jekka's RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden, 2016

Jekka's top herbs for a small culinary herb garden

Large feature plants for the centre of the bed or at the back of the bed for height (make sure you check the height and spread before planting):

1. Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
2. Bay (Laurus nobilis)
3. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
4. Rosemary (Rosmarinus)
5. Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
6. Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora)
7. Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
8. Szechuan Pepper (Zanthoxylum simulans) - Read Jekka's blog all about Szechuan Pepper.

Must-have salad herbs:

1. Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
2. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
3. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
4. Basil (Ocimum)
5. French Parsley (Petroselinum crispum French)
6. Dill (Anethum graveolens) (however, beware, it grows tall)

Clumping, spreading or border culinary herbs:

1. Buckler-leaf Sorrel (Rumex scutatus)
2. Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum 'Greek')
3. French Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
4. Jekka's Thyme (Thymus 'Jekka's)
5. Lemon Thyme (Thymus 'Culinary Lemon')
6. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
7. Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata)
8. Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
9. Winter Savory (Satureja montana)

Mints that need to be grown in a pot, which can be sunk in the garden, 5 of our favourites are:

1. Basil Mint (Mentha x piperita f. citrata 'Basil')
2. Chocolate Mint (Mentha x piperita f.citrata 'Chocolate')
3. Mojito Mint (Mentha suaveolens var. crispa 'Mojito')
4. Moroccan Mint (Mentha spicata var. crispa 'Moroccan')
5. Swiss Mint (Mentha x piperita f. citrata 'Swiss Ricola')

Check out Jekka's Guide to Mint for all the varieties available.

We grow over 400 different medicinal and culinary herbs, the above list is therefore not an exhaustive list but a good start. Check out Jekkapedia for some more ideas or Jekka's looking good list to see what is currently available.

A private herb kitchen garden designed by Jekka

Check out Jekka's Grow at Home Herb Kits and Seed Collections to start growing herbs. Our grow at home herb kits are sustainable and contain Jekka's special peat-free, hand-mixed seedling compost, biodegradable pots, wooden labels and perlite as well as 5 packets of our untreated seeds.

Jekka's culinary herb garden planting plans

As a good starting point Jekka has designed two small beds, which can be followed exactly, shrunk, expanded or joined together to fill your space. What you actually grow will be dependent on your situation.

Jekka's Square Culinary Herb Garden

Jekka's square culinary herb garden is ideal as a standalone central feature of a garden, a bed just outside the kitchen door or as a perfect transformation of a forgotten corner.

This garden is formed around the Rolls-Royce of herbs, Lemon Verbena, which is wonderful for making a lovely, refreshing tisane. Chives line the two sides, both garlic with its white flowers and standard, with purple flowers. The other sides have two flavoursome, must-have, cooking Thymes of Lemon Thyme and Broad-Leaved Thyme. Other culinary must-haves are French Tarragon for chicken and vinegars, Sage for stuffings and pasta sauces and Bronze Fennel for salads and the seeds for breads.

Jekka's square culinary herb garden is a feast for the senses and contains:

1. Broad Leaved Thyme (Thymus pulegioides)
2. Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum')
3. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
4. Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)
5. Golden Oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Aureum')
6. French Parsley (Petroselinum crispum French)
7. French Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
8. Lemon Thyme (Thymus 'Culinary Lemon')
9. Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora)
10. Oregano Hot & Spicy (Origanum 'Hot and Spicy')
11. Prostrate Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus (Prostratus Group))
12. Sage (Salvia)

Jekka's square culinary herb garden planting plan (200cm x 200cm)

Jekka's Rectangle Culinary Herb Garden

This rectangular bed is the most popular shape that we get asked about. Whether on your allotment or as the border to your garden this little rectangle will not only provide you with a lot of flavour for your kitchen but will be wonderful for your pollinators.

The garden is designed around the magnificent bay tree (read Jekka's blog all about Bay) which then cascades down to Rosemary Miss Jessops and is borded by Chives, Thymes and Oregano. The corners feature the compact and beautifully formed Lavender Miss Muffet which should be abuzz in summer. This can be replaced by a different Lavandula angustifolia if you prefer. Therefore, with the Borage, Chives, Marigolds and Lavender not only will you be happy but your bees will be as well.

The forms of the compact varieties of the Lavandula angustifola, compact oregano and thyme and upright habit of the Rosemary Miss Jessops should mean that, with pruning and maintenance, the garden will also keep its shape and be relatively tidy. However, herbs do have a mind of their own!

Jekka's rectangle culinary herb garden contains:

1. Bay (Laurus nobilis)
2. Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum')
3. Borage (Borago officinalis)
4. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
5. Compact Oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Compactum')
6. Compact Thyme (Thymus vulgaris 'Compactus')
7. French Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
8. French Parsley (Petroselinum crispum French)
9. Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)
10. Lavender Miss Muffett (Lavandula angustifolia 'Miss Muffett')
11. Lemon Thyme (Thymus 'Culinary Lemon')
12. Purple Sage (Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens')
13. Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
14. Rosemary Miss Jessops (Salvia rosmarinus 'Miss Jessopp's Upright')
15. Winter Savory (Satureja montana)

Jekka's rectangle culinary herb garden planting plan (250cm x 150cm)

Want to know more?

You can find more about herbs in Jekka's blog and videos as well as Jekka's book 'A Pocketful of Herbs' or Jekka's Complete Herb Book, browsing Jekkapedia and exploring our herb based recipes.

Alternatively, come and visit the herb farm in South Gloucestershire at one of our Open Days, Master Classes or Herb Experiences (see our events calendar).

For advice on growing and maintaining herbs, check out 'Jekka's Seasonal Tips' blog series, which includes what to do in your herb garden in early spring, late spring, summer and autumn & winter. Together they form the basis of Jekka's guide on how to grow herbs.

Please also see 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)

Herb plants are available and you can organise a collection from our herb farm in South Gloucestershire or at one of our Open Days. Please see our 'Looking Good List' for availability and use our webform or email your list directly to us ([email protected]). We no longer offer a general mail order service for our plants but we do offer an occasional limited selection of Jekka's Culinary Herb Boxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to eat raw garlic?

Raw garlic contains potent compounds that could cause stomach upset. Garlic should always be cooked before eating.

Garlic is one of the oldest known medicinal plants. It has been used since ancient times to treat various ailments.

Today, garlic is still commonly used for treating colds, coughs, and other respiratory infections. In addition, garlic can increase blood circulation, boost immunity, protect against cancer, lower cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease, and reduce stress.

Do not ingest large amounts of raw garlic to avoid possible health problems. It does not harm you if you consume small amounts regularly, however. This is especially true with young children who might accidentally swallow some.

How to make herbal remedies at home?

Making herbal remedies at home is easy. All you need is fresh herbs, water, salt, and sugar. You can use any herb, depending on what you want to create.

For example, choose mint, basil, chamomile, or lemon balm to make a soothing tea. If you want to make a cooling drink, try rosemary, thyme, lavender, or eucalyptus.

All you need to do is put all the ingredients into a pot and boil them until they become soft. Strain out the herbs and serve hot.

Add honey to the boiling mixture to make a tonic drink. Honey is a preservative and will keep your herbal remedy fresh for longer.

You can also combine two or three herbs to make a more potent brew. For instance, you could mix equal parts of garlic and ginger to make a powerful antiseptic. Or you can combine equal amounts of turmeric and ginger to make a potent immune booster.

Soak a clean cloth in warm water and place it over the affected area to make a compress. Leave it for 10 minutes before removing it. Do this every day until the swelling goes down.

Make sure you consult your doctor first before using herbal remedies. Some plants may interact negatively with other medications. Also, don't take large quantities of herbs because they can cause side effects.

What plant helps with infection?

There are plants out there that help fight infections. Some even contain anti-bacterial properties. One of them is mint.

Mint has been used for centuries to treat respiratory infections such as cold symptoms and flu. Mint also supports digestion and relieves gas pains. You may find relief with peppermint tea if you have an upset stomach. Peppermint oil has antibacterial properties, which make it effective against germs.

Peppermint tea contains menthol, beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. These nutrients support healthy immune systems and provide energy to keep your body strong.

You can make peppermint tea at home by adding one teaspoon of dried mint leaves to boiling water. Let steep for five minutes and drink hot three times per day.

Or you can buy peppermint tea bags at any grocery store. Simply add two teaspoons of dried mint leaves to a cup of hot water. Steep for 10 minutes and strain. Drink hot three times per day for best results.

Which plant has antibiotic and wound-healing properties?

People often ask about plants that have medicinal uses. Some of these include aloe vera, eucalyptus, chamomile, and lavender. If you're wondering why there aren't any plants used for cleaning and disinfecting purposes, it's because most plants have toxic qualities.

The reason why we use herbs for medicine is that they contain compounds that stimulate our immune system. This means that they help us fight infections and heal wounds.

Some plants also have anti-inflammatory properties. These include ginger, turmeric, and mint.

Herbs such as basil, fennel, marigold, and oregano are great for cleansing the body.

There are even some plants that help prevent cancer. Research shows that black raspberries may reduce the chances of developing breast cancer. The same goes for broccoli. It can help prevent colon cancer.

What are the side effects of basil?

Basil is an herb that originated in tropical regions of India, Africa, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile.

The plant is easy to grow in most climates and requires little maintenance. Basil also thrives in poor soil conditions and is very drought tolerant.

As for the health benefits, more than 200 known compounds are found in basil, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, polysaccharides, essential oils, vitamins, and minerals.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, basil contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties which may help relieve symptoms associated with arthritis, asthma, allergies, bronchitis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, digestive disorders, depression, eczema, insomnia, infections, migraines, osteoporosis, psoriasis, respiratory problems, stress, and ulcers.

Basil is also a culinary spice and is often added to tomato sauces, soups, salads, pasta dishes, rice dishes, dips, casseroles, pizza toppings, pesto, chicken wings, and popcorn.

However, like all herbs, basil should be consumed in moderation. Too much of anything is not good for you. For example, eating large amounts of basil could lead to stomach upset. And if you have sensitive tummies, avoid consuming basil during pregnancy.

If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your doctor before taking herbal supplements.

You should only take one type of supplement at a time. If you take other medications, make sure they do not interact with each other.

You should never use herbs while on medication unless directed by your doctor.

Some people experience allergic reactions when using herbs, especially those allergic to ragweed. Symptoms include hives, swelling around the mouth or eyes, shortness of breath, chest tightness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, fainting, heart palpitations, blurred vision, loss of consciousness, seizures, or even death.

Some people who take certain medications may develop an allergy to basil. These drugs include:

• Antacids (like Alka Seltzer)
• Anti-anxiety medicines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan, etc.)
• Beta-blockers (like Propranolol)
• Blood thinners (like Coumadin)
• Calcium channel blockers (like Amlodipine)
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs (like Lipitor, Zocor, Mevacor, and Pravachol)
• Diabetes medicine (like Glucophage)
• Diuretics (like Lasix)
• Heartburn medicines (like Prilosec OTC)
• Hormone therapy (like Premarin, Tamoxifen, Femara)
• Insulin (like Humalog, Lantus, Novolin R)
• NSAIDs (like Aleve, Motrin, Advil, Excedrin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen)
• Oral contraceptives (like Ortho Evra, Yasmin, Loestrin, Ovrette, Yaz, and Seasonale)
• Pain relievers (like Aspirin, Celebrex, Vicodin, Percodan, Darvocet, Dilaudid, Fiorinal, Tylenol 3s, Naproxen, Motrin, Tramadol, Ultram, Voltaren

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.

Statistics

• The global herbs market is expected to reach more than $125 billion by the end of 2025.
• The herbs market is highly competitive, with over 1,000 herb suppliers and over 15,000 herbs products available in the United States alone.

External Links

[TAG28]

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

[TAG30]

• 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

[TAG33]

• Antioxidant capacity of 26 spice extracts and characterization of their phenolic constituents - PubMed


• Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant - PMC

[TAG36]

• Health Benefits of Culinary Herbs and Spices - PubMed


• Use of echinacea in medicine - PubMed

How To

How To Upcycle Herbs After Making Infusions, Oils, Tinctures, And More?

There are more ways to use herbs than you might realize. This is why it's essential to keep an open mind when learning how to make herbal infusions, oils, tinctures, and more.

You'll find that there are many methods for making these products, and even though they may seem similar, each method has its benefits.

For example, some methods include creating decoctions, boiling water or alcohol with the herb(s), and letting them simmer for a while. These infusions are solid and potent because they contain higher concentrations of active compounds.

Another type of infusion includes macerating the herb(s), which means soaking them in liquid for a few hours or even overnight. Macerations tend to produce milder results because the plant material isn't boiled.

Some cold-infused forms involve steeping herbs in cool liquids such as ice cubes or cold water. Cold infusions are gentler than hot ones, often used to treat minor ailments.

Herbal oil extraction involves heating the herb(s) to release the essential oils. You can either do this yourself or have someone help you out with it.

Finally, there are tinctures made by mixing herbs with alcohol. They're usually taken orally and are very effective for treating coughs, colds, and flu symptoms.

The best way to learn how to create infused products is to experiment with various techniques. Each technique offers a different potency and effectiveness, depending on the herb(s) you choose.

Once you've tried a few different methods, you'll begin to develop your preferences. In time, you'll be able to determine which techniques work well for you and which aren't worth pursuing.

Resources:

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