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EnglishWhat Is Jekka's Current Focus After Stepping Back From Large-Scale Plant Production?
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Jekka's has shifted from being a large-scale herb plant producer to a knowledge-sharing herb farm. After more than forty years of growing herbs, the family-run farm on the outskirts of Bristol has stepped back from large-scale plant production. Its focus now sits in four areas: the Herb Garden and the Herbetum, herb experiences and talks, books, and a curated range of seeds and products. If you are looking to buy herbs in bulk or order mature plants at volume, that is no longer the core of the business — but if you want to learn about growing and using culinary and medicinal herbs, or buy seeds and selected products, this is what Jekka's is set up for today.
What changed, and what stayed the same
The change is about scale of production, not about the herbs themselves. Jekka's states that while it has stepped back from large-scale plant production, its passion for herbs is unchanged. The farm still describes itself as home to the largest collection of culinary herbs in the UK, and all herbs continue to be grown following organic principles.
| Before | Now |
|---|---|
| Large-scale plant production as a core activity | Stepped back from large-scale plant production |
| Plants as a main output | Knowledge sharing through the garden, experiences, talks and books |
| — | Curated range of seeds and products |
So the practical difference for a visitor or customer is where the emphasis lies: less on supplying plants at volume, more on teaching people how to grow and use them.
The four current focus areas
1. The Herb Garden and the Herbetum
Jekka's Herb Garden and the Herbetum are the physical centre of the current operation. The Herbetum is the collection around which the herb experiences are based. You can visit Jekka's Herb Farm during an open day or as part of a herb experience; dates are listed in the events calendar. Open days include access to the garden and a plant sale, with plants, seeds and books available to buy, plus cakes, coffee and herbal infusions at the farm café.
One dated example from the site: the September Open Days are listed for Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September 2026, with limited morning and afternoon e-tickets released on 16 August. If you are planning around a specific open day, check the events calendar rather than assuming a recurring schedule.
2. Herb experiences, talks and books
Jekka's aim is to educate and inspire gardeners and cooks of all ages. The programme runs from open days through to Discovery Days and Master Classes, all based around the Herbetum. This is the clearest expression of the "sharing knowledge" focus: you spend the day at the farm learning about growing sustainable culinary and medicinal herbs rather than simply buying plants.
3. A curated range of seeds and products
The online herb shop carries a deliberately narrower range than a full production nursery would. According to the site, the shop includes:
- Herb seed collections
- Grow-at-home herb kits
- Master classes
- Illustrated gifts and homeware
- Gardener gift boxes
- Jekka's herbal infusions
All products are described as following the farm's "green, environmentally friendly and sustainable" approach.
4. Growing and using herbs sustainably
The through-line across all of the above is sustainable growing and use of medicinal and culinary herbs, with over 40 years of experience behind it. The site notes that all herbs are grown following organic principles, and links to a fuller explanation of Jekka's approach.
How to decide whether Jekka's fits what you need
- You want to learn to grow or cook with herbs — the experiences, talks and books are the current core offer. Start with the events calendar for open days and class dates.
- You want seeds, kits or herb-themed gifts — the online herb shop is the right entry point; the range is curated rather than comprehensive.
- You want to visit a herb garden — open days give garden access plus a plant sale and café; e-tickets are limited and released on set dates.
- You want large volumes of plants — this is the part Jekka's has stepped back from, so it is not the right source for that.
A useful way to frame it: Jekka's today is closer to a teaching garden with a shop attached than to a production nursery. If your goal is knowledge, seeds or a visit, the current focus works in your favour. If your goal is bulk plants, look elsewhere.