Grow your Salsa garden easy!

Growing your own plants for salsa is an awesome way to utilize your garden space. You need to know the right plants and recipe to have delicious salsa for you and your family all summer and fall!

Here’s what you need to get started:

• Choose the right plants. The most important plants for a salsa garden are tomatoes, peppers, onions, cilantro, garlic, and tomatillos. You can start all of these plants in spring from seed or buy starts in stores.

To learn how to start plants from seed read this post!

• Plant the seeds or transplants. If you are starting from seeds, start them indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date in your area. If you are using transplants, plant them in the garden after your last frost date.

Don’t know how to find your last frost date? Read this Post!

• Water regularly. Your plants will need about 1 inch of water per week. Water deeply and less often, rather than shallowly and more often.
• Fertilize regularly. Fertilize your plants every 1-2 weeks with a balanced fertilizer. You can dilute your fertilizer with water and fertilize weekly if you would like to as well.
• Harvest your plants. Harvest your tomatoes when they are red and when your peppers are ripe. You can harvest the leaves of cilantro and other herbs as needed.
• Make your salsa. Once you have harvested your ingredients, you can make your own salsa. There are many different recipes available, so you can find one that suits your taste.

Here are some additional tips for growing your own salsa:

• Plant your salsa garden in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
• Mulch around your plants to help keep the soil moist and to suppress weeds.
• Water your plants deeply and less often, rather than shallowly and more often.
• Fertilize your salsa garden plants every 1-2 weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
• Watch for pests and diseases and treat them promptly. Do a quick google search to identify if your plant has a pest or disease and treat appropriately.
• Harvest your salsa ingredients when they are ripe. Vegetables taste better when in their prime!

Now that you’ve harvested your ingredients it’s time to make your salsa! Here’s an easy recipe you can use.

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe tomatoes, cored and quartered
• 1/2 medium red onion, peeled and quartered
• 1 jalapeno pepper, stemmed and seeded (or more to taste)
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. Roughly chop the tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno pepper.
2. Add the chopped vegetables to a food processor along with the cilantro, lime juice, salt, cumin, and black pepper.
3. Pulse the food processor until the salsa is finely chopped, but not pureed.
4. Taste the salsa and adjust the seasonings to taste.
5. Serve the salsa with chips, tacos, burritos, or any other Mexican dish.

Here are some tips for making salsa:

• Use ripe tomatoes for the best flavor.
• If you want a spicier salsa, leave the seeds in the jalapeno pepper.
• If you want a milder salsa, remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapeno pepper.
• Use your favorite herbs and spices to add your own unique flavor to the salsa.
• Store the salsa in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Growing your own salsa is a fun experience. With a little planning and care, you can have fresh, flavorful salsa all summer long straight from the garden.

Happy Gardening!

Ciearra