Spring is here in California and right around the corner for the rest of the country! This is the prime time to start a garden.
Take the next week or two to start thinking about what you want to plant, where to plant, if you want a container garden or plant into the earth. In 2 weeks I will spend a week discussing gardening how to’s and tricks I have learned.
In the meantime you can s tart with a simple concept for the types of plants you purchase. For the past several years we have planted a low-maintenance “Salsa Garden” and have enjoyed the variety and simplicity of that assortment every time. Here is what goes in our salsa garden:
- A variety of tomatoes plants
- Peppers
- Cilantro
- Green Onions
Several years ago Roger and I decided to plant our own salsa garden in containers on our back patio, (we live in a townhouse, so my visions of sowing seed for crops and my own hen house have to be put on hold for a while.) We kept it simple the first year – just a few tomato plants, a couple of peppers, cilantro, etc. But boy oh boy did we enjoy the benefits of fresh salsa ingredients at our door step. Here is Roger’s famous salsa recipe. Give it a try!
Ingredients:
12 tomatoes (or two large cans of crushed tomatoes)
1 (15 oz) can of tomato sauce
1 bunch cilantro, chopped coarse down to the stemmy part
2 stems green onion, chopped medium
1 red onion, chopped medium (I use two slices from the center portion)
2 jalapenos, chopped fine (leave seeds in) — if you want mild salsa substitute Anaheim peppers; if
you want hot salsa substitute 4 habaneras.
4-5 garlic cloves, chopped fine
Directions:
Combine these ingredients in large glass bowl.
If tomatoes were room temp to start with, I add two ice cubes and mix in. The following seasonings are very approximate… I don’t measure.
Add the following seasonings to taste (measurements given are approximately what I use… ish)
2 T fresh oregano leaves, chopped
1 T cumin powder
1 T coarse ground black pepper
1 T fresh basil, chopped
1 tsp marjoram
I’d love to know, do you garden and what are your must haves each year?
I love my herb garden. I grow rosemary, 3 types of lavendar, oregano, 3 types of thyme, peppermint, spearmint and chocolate mint (yes, there is a chocolate mint plant. I found it at Osh), sage, basil, chives and garlic chives. I feel so Martha Stewart’ish when I go out to my herb garden and pick fresh herb to use in my cooking. I have found that even canned sauces taste different when I throw in fresh herbs. I also find that working in my garden and yard is very relaxing.
I do a garden every year (for the last 5 years) and I grew up with my family, 1 acre, garden. It is a way of life here. We grow corn, potatos, pepers (hot and bell), carrots (my daughter’s favorite, she would be upset if we didn’t grown them), kohlrabi (my favorite!), cucumbers (pickling and salad), pumpkins, yellow squash, onions, tomatoes, zuchinni and this year we are trying brussel sprouts. I will have to try the receipe you gave us. Thanks!
I grow three things: tomatoes, green beans and melons. There is nothing tastier than home grown tomatoes and melons. I pickle the green beans and we still have plenty for summer salads of blanched green beans with a light vinaigrette dressing. Last year I grew basil and cilantro in pots on the back deck and made pesto. I’m looking forward to hearing your tips, especially for container gardening.