Gardening Page

How to Grow a Salsa Garden 

What to Grow 

Not just any tomato will render the best base for your salsa. Paste tomatoes are smaller, with a full tomato flavor that comes from rich meaty low- moisture flesh. Some paste tomato varieties to try are ‘San Marzano’, ‘Roma’, and ‘Veeroma’. 

What peppers you grow depends on what level of heat you prefer in your salsa. It’s always a good practice to wear gloves when handling peppers, regardless of heat level. 

Tomatillos are a must for most traditional salsas, yet they are an ingredient that is often overlooked in many homemade recipes. Tomatillos were cultivated by the ancient Aztecs and have remained a common component in Mexican cuisine. 

Tomatoes - Plant at least two tomato plants. Try one paste tomato variety, such as Roma. Roma has medium sized, oblong tomatoes with a thick meaty flesh. Also plant a large type tomato such as Celebrity or Delicious. 

BASICS 

Tomatoes, peppers and chiles, eggplant, tomatillo, and potatoes are all members of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Though some members of this family contain poisonous alkaloids (as do potato tubers that turn green after exposure to sunlight), these five vegetables are some of the favorites in the garden. 

All except potatoes grow best in warm weather. All, except potato, are eaten for the tasty fruit they produce. These vegetables share some of the same pests and crop rotation can be an important control strategy. 

TOMATOES 

Planting

• Youcangrowyourowntomatoesfromseedsstarted indoors or buy transplants. Tomato seeds are rarely planted directly into the garden in Illinois. 

• Startseedsindoorsplantingthem1/4-1/2”deep, 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date. 

Onions, chives, garlic, cilantro, basil, oregano, cucumbers and more also have a place in the salsa garden. 

CHOOSE A FEW 

Parsley is a biennial herb that has flat leaf or curly leaf varieties. Plant two or three plants in your garden. 

Basil - There are several kinds of basil varieties, but sweet basil is recommended for a salsa garden. Basil is an annual herb and you can plant two to three plants. 

Cilantro is a very strong herb. It is an annual and easy to start from seed. Plant two or three plants in a garden. 

Onions can be planted from seeds or sets. Select red, white or yellow for your garden. Plant up to 30 onion sets in the salsa garden. 

Peppers-Planttwoorthreepepperplantsin your garden. Plant any green, sweet, bell type of pepper. If you like hot, spicy salsa, plan to also grow a hot pepper variety.  ∆