Salsa Ingredients
Photo by: OakleyOriginals
If you love salsa, then you should be growing a salsa garden! Sure, canned salsa tastes okay, but there is nothing like the taste of fresh salsa - and it doesn't get any fresher than straight from your garden. You don't need to have a lot of space to grow a salsa garden; in fact, I have seen them grown in containers and in plots no larger than two feet by two feet. Most of the vegetables and herbs used to make salsa are easy to grow as long as you can provide full sun, water, and fertilizer. Now is a great time to grow some of the plants for a salsa garden since most of them love heat. Here are some of the essential herbs and vegetables to grow for a salsa garden.
Tomatoes Tomatoes are the backbone of a salsa garden, and of the salsa itself. You will want to choose a meaty tomato. Brandywine and Roma tomatoes are two traditional ones that are great for salsa, but I personally love unusual heirloom varieties like 'Black Krim' and 'Emerald Evergreen'. For a four by four plot, choose three plants; choosing ones with different fruiting times will extend your salsa making season. Plant your tomato plants in the back of your salsa garden as they will be the tallest plants. Most people stake their tomatoes or use tomato cages to keep the fruits off of the ground and because it just looks tidier. Tomato plants require at least six hours of sun to produce fruit and are better off with at least eight hours, so be sure to plant them in a full sun location. Also, be sure to water your tomato plants deeply and regularly. A very general rule is to water every two to three days in the middle of summer when it is very hot and once a week after fruit has set, but these will depend on the rain in your area. If you are growing plants in a container, they will require water more often. Last but not least, plants that produce fruits are heavy feeders so be sure to fertilize regularly according to directions. 
Fresh Summer Salsa
Photo by: A Rosie Sweet Home
Peppers Peppers range in taste from sweet to make-you-cry hot and there is one to suit every taste. Peppers give salsa the oomph that we love and they also come in a variety of shapes and colors. Jalapeno peppers are the most commonly used in salsa, but if you love heat, try serrano peppers. If you are really brave, you may want to try habaneros. Georgia Flame is a great hot heirloom pepper for salsa, and orange Thai is another that doubles as an ornamental plant with its small orange fruits. Choose peppers with harvest times that coincide with the harvest time of your tomatoes in order to make salsa. Peppers need growing conditions similar to those of tomatoes, and don't forget to fertilize them. Plant taller peppers in front of tomatoes; small ornamental varieties like 'Black Pearl', 'Calico', and orange Thai can be planted in the front as they are short and showy.
Garlic & Herbs Cilantro is the herb that gives salsa its distinctive taste, but basil and garlic are important in the salsa world as well. Cilantro prefers cool weather and bolts quickly in the heat, so be prepared to plant new plants or start seeds every two to three weeks for a continuous supply. On the other hand, basil is a heat lover and it will thrive in the middle of summer. Garlic is best planted in fall and harvested the following summer. Until then, buy from the store or your local farmer's market. In your salsa garden plot, plant herbs where areas need to be filled in. They are not fussy and prefer the same sunny conditions as peppers and tomatoes except they do not need to be fertilized.
Salsa Garden
Photo by: Angel Schatz
Onions Onions are generally started from onion sets and planted in the spring. However, if you choose an early maturing variety like 'Mini Purplette', you can harvest within 60 days; this little onion also requires very little room so plant it in containers or among your tomatoes and peppers. You can also buy onion sets and soon start harvesting green onions. Generally onions like drier conditions than tomatoes and peppers but they should do fine if they are planted along with them. Plant onion sets shallowly so that the roots are covered but the tops are not. They should be fertilized along with the peppers and tomatoes. Soon you will be harvesting your home grown veggies and your friends will be asking for your salsa recipes ! You may like your salsa so much that you decide to can it to enjoy this winter.
Home Canning Salsa
Photo by: KevonFrederico
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