The Ultimate Guide To Plant A Salsa Garden

 

 Plant a Salsa Garden!

Love salsa?  Why not plant your own salsa garden this year? Store-bought salsas are good but they're only as good as the ingredients in the jar.  Who wants all the extra sodium and preservatives that are in commercially packaged foods?  With fresh-from-your-garden produce, you can create salsas that not only taste better but that are better for you too!

What makes the perfect salsa differs according to personal taste.  But whether you prefer your salsa chunky or smooth, with just a bit of bite or so hot it nearly blisters, most of the ingredients in the recipe will be the same.  

Plant A Salsa Garden

It's by varying these key ingredients that you find the combination that's right for you.   That's great news for the gardener.  It means that with a few basic plants, a few feet of soil, and a little commitment,  you can produce a harvest that will allow you to sample many different recipes!
Let's get started planning your new garden:

 

Determine the size and location of your garden.  Select an area that will receive at least 6 hrs. of sun a day and is close to a water source.   If you're starting with a new bed, I recommend starting small.  It's much better to expand next year than to become overwhelmed this season because you planted more than you could tend!  Consider a 5 ft. x 5 ft., 6 ft. x 10 ft. or whatever dimensions fit nicely into your landscape.

 Have a soil sample analyzed (in our area the County Extension Agent will send it off for us) to see what amendments would improve your soil structure.

Remove the sod from the site you'll be using.  This can be accomplished with either a shovel or a sod cutter.  If using a shovel, cut down about 3-4 inches, trying to remove as much grass and root as possible.  Sod cutters can be found in both manual and gas-powered versions.  

We invested in the manual type for small jobs around the home and use it often.  A gas-powered sod cutter is probably easier to use and can be rented from most equipment rental stores.

Once the sod has been removed, amend your soil according to the soil analysis recommendations.  You may be tempted to skip this step, but a little effort up front will result in more satisfactory growing results this year and for seasons to come.

 If your garden will be planted with starter plants, consider working a pre-emergent herbicide into the soil at this point.  Not everyone will want to do this but the herbicide will prevent seeds that are in your soil from sprouting, thus cutting down on the weeds in your garden.  

Do not use a pre-emergent herbicide if you're planting from seed!  It does not discern the difference between one seed and another, and is as likely to keep your tomatoes from growing as it is a dandelion!

You can see our detailed information on selecting and growing Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Onion, Garlic, Peppers and Chilies, and Herbs by clicking on any of these links; or by clicking on the menu at the left.  If you're planting from seed the rule of thumb is to bury the seeds 2-3 times the depth of their diameter.  

Plant A Salsa Garden

If you're starting with plants, bury them as deep as they are planted in their original container. (Be sure to wait until the weather is warm enough before planting most salsa ingredients such as tomatoes, peppers, and most herbs.  It's easy to be anxious to get started in spring, but planting too early may result in frost or freeze damage.)

Water, weed, fertilize and harvest on a weekly basis through the growing season. Enjoy the abundance of fresh veggies and herbs.

 
You can still have a fantastic salsa garden!  All you need is a little space, some containers and a lot of suns. As luck would have it, most of the plants used in salsa will thrive readily in planters on your balcony, deck, or around your pool.  Some of them will even do well in a window box! 
 Decide which plants you would like to grow. Find planters with good drainage and of appropriate size for the mature plants.
 

Fill planters nearly full with a good quality potting soil that contains Peat (which helps to retain water).
Select plants from a list of recommended varieties.  You can see our detailed information on selecting and growing Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Onion, Garlic, Peppers and Chilies and Herbs by clicking on any of these links; or by clicking on the menu at the left.  

If you're planting from seed the rule of thumb is to bury the seeds 2-3 times the depth of their diameter.  If   You're starting with plants, bury them as deep as they are planted in their original container. (Be sure to wait until the weather is warm enough before planting most of the vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, and most herbs.  It's easy to be anxious to get started in spring, but planting too early may result in frost or freeze damage.)

Sit containers in a sunny location.  Most of the plants used for traditional tomato salsa are sun lovers.  They need a minimum of 6 hours of sun to perform their best.  Often you can find a suitable spot on your balcony or deck, around your pool, or on your porch steps.

Water and fertilize regularly.  The water will evaporate more quickly from porous, terra cotta clay pots than it will if you plant in plastic or glazed pottery pots.  Of course, whatever you plant in, plants that require a lot of suns, also require a lot of water!  Check your planters frequently.
Enjoy the harvest!  Make a lot of salsa!