What to Put in a Salsa Garden (With Recipe!)

Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a gardener, growing your own, fresh ingredients to create fresh salsa is a fun way to test your green thumb.

Not only is salsa naturally fat free, it’s rich with vegetables and herbs bursting with flavor and packed with healthy nutrients.

To get started, all you need is a little (not much) space in your yard or on a deck or patio for potted plants.

Space and Soil

To plant a salsa garden, you should select an area of space that will receive at least 6 hours of sun every day. Consider a 5x5 foot area to start if you just want a small garden. If you are planting in the ground, consider having your soil analyzed to determine what you will need to add to the soil for nutrition. IF you are planting a raised bed garden, or using potted planters to grow your garden, use potting spoil designed for vegetables, and consider adding other nutrients such as compost or manure to help your garden soil maintain health.

Vegetables and Herbs to Put in a Salsa Garden

Some plants you will want to grow in your garden include:

• Tomatoes (any variety other than grape or cherry)
• Tomatillos
• Onion
• Garlic
• Peppers
• Chilies
• Jalapenos
• Cilantro

Be sure to water your plants every other day, and weed and fertilize your garden once a week.

Harvest your vegetables and herbs once a week, or when you see fit.

Recipes for Homemade Salsa

Check out this amazing recipe for restaurant-style salsa from the Pioneer Woman, or try the recipe below.

California Salsa Fresca

• 8 large Tomatoes, diced
• 2 large Yellow Onions, diced
• 6 Green Onions, chopped, including the tops
• 8 cloves of Garlic, finely minced
• 1 large Red Bell Pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 large Golden Bell Pepper, seeded and diced
• 2 Anaheim or Pablano Peppers, seeded and minced
• 3 small Hot Chilies of choice, (or to taste) seeded and finely minced
• 1 stalk of Celery, chopped very small
• ½ cup chopped fresh Cilantro
• ¼ cup chopped fresh Parsley
• 1 TBS finely minced fresh Mexican Oregano
• 1/2 tsp. ground Cumin
• 3 TBS Sugar
• 1 tsp. fresh-ground Black Pepper
• 1/3 – ½ cup fresh Lime Juice
• Salt to taste

Mix all together well and store in a covered container in the refrigerator. This will keep for at least 2 weeks. Makes about 2 quarts.

Recipe from http://www.salsagarden.com/

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Celebrate Earth Day and Plant a Garden

One of the best things you can do for your body is to eat healthy fruits and vegetables every day. But even more rewarding may be growing your own fruits and vegetables in your backyard.

Now is the time to start thinking about planting a garden. Even if you don’t have the space for more than a few tomato plants, or are limited to potted plants on your deck, you can enjoy a garden and the “fruits” of your labor.

Here are some basic tips to help you get started.

Decide What to Grow

Common vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini are easy to grow in most regions within the United States. If you decide to plant multiple types of vegetables, don’t be afraid of variety. Add some corn, broccoli or carrots to your garden. But, be sure to allow enough space in between plants so they can spread. Follow the recommendations on the packets of seeds you buy, and be sure to grow vegetables and fruits you enjoy!

Start Indoors

Growing plants from seeds can be difficult, which is why it is a good idea to start your seeds indoors. Most home improvement and garden centers sell peat cups you can start your seeds in, then transplant directly to your garden after any danger of frost – without even taking the soil out of the peat cups. Or, you can use old egg cartons to start your seeds. Transplant your seedlings outdoors when the danger of frost has passed and they are big enough to survive on their own (about four weeks).

Prepare Your Soil

The richness of the soil will directly impact how big your garden grows, and how fruitful your garden becomes. Aerate the soil with a hoe, shovel or motorized tiller. Mix compost or peat with your soil, along with vegetable-safe fertilizer designed for gardens. If you have access to manure, add that in for even richer soil.

Composting is another great way to help your soil become rich. Composting takes food scraps (vegetables and fruits – not proteins like meats or cheese) and decomposes them until they become nutrient-rich fertilizer for your soil. Composting requires either a little space for a pile, or a compost drum, and is an eco-friendly way to make your own soil.

Plant and Feed

Once your plants are planted, make sure you keep them watered well, and that they get plenty of sunshine. It’s recommended you water them every other day (every day if you are doing potted gardens on your deck) and that you maintain that nutrient-dense soil with compost and/or garden fertilizer.

Now enjoy your garden! And keep those garden pests like bugs and bunnies away.

Lose Weight at Penn Medicine

Learn about medical weight loss in Philadelphia, and the Penn Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program at a free information session about weight-loss surgery in Philadelphia.

There, you will hear about your weight-loss surgery options, and how Penn can help you lose weight and get healthy for good.

Register for a free information session today.

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