Ole! Planting a Successful Salsa Garden

The difference between salsa you find on the grocery store shelf and home-made salsa is like the difference between sunshine and the tanning booth. The idea is the same, but, boy - what a difference! There's nothing quite like the crisp, fresh taste of salsa you make in your own kitchen.

On a recent trip to Mexico, fresh salsa was abundant, displaying simple ingredients that boasted huge flavors. Salsa recipes are generally easy, and only contain a few ingredients - tomatoes, onions, hot peppers, and cilantro. Mix and match these fresh items with a little lime juice and salt, and you've got an instant traditional Mexican salsa.

The key to exceptional salsa is to use fresh ingredients, which makes a salsa garden a perfect source if you want ingredients on-hand.

Preparing your garden's soil is key to growing healthy plants. You don't need a lot of space - a small plot will be sufficient. If your space is limited or you live in the city, planting separately in containers works very well. Till, or shovel the soil, breaking up any clumps. Add compost so that your dirt flows loosely through your fingers.

Buying plants from a local nursery is the easiest and fastest way to start your garden. Buy two healthy-looking tomato plants, a pepper plant, and a bag of onion sets. Most nurseries offer a variety of pepper plants - buy to your personal "spice level". Plum tomatoes make excellent salsa. You can buy your cilantro as a plant, or seeds. Planting the seeds is very easy and offers a high success rate, so I suggest you try seeding first. Garlic bulbs can be found at your nursery or simply pick them up at the grocery store.

Depending on your growing region, start your gardening as soon as possible in the spring. If you don't know your zone, see the National Gardening Association's USDA Hardiness Zone Finder.

Tomato plants need the most room and sunlight, so leave about five feet between plants for future growth. Set a tomato cage around your small plant - they will grow into it very quickly. Peppers also need full sunlight. Make sure that you press the soil around the plants to remove air pockets.

Plant the onion sets in a line, marking your rows with a popsicle stick, leaving about six inches between bulbs. Also sow the cilantro seeds in a row, marking the lines so you know where you've planted.

Garlic must be planted the prior fall before harvest. Separate the bulbs and plant in a row - they won't be ready until late in the growing season. Store-bought garlic will be just fine if you don't have garlic ready in your garden yet.

Keep your plants watered, but don't drown them. Water in the early morning or later evening hours. A two-inch natural organic mulch cover will help retain moisture and control weeds. Harvest your plants as they ripen, and make salsa throughout the summer months.

A simple recipe for pico de gallo:

4 plum tomatoes, diced

1/4 medium onion, chopped

1-2 cloves minced garlic, depending on taste

1-2 chopped peppers, depending on (hot!) level

1 sprig minced cilantro

½ of a fresh lime

Dash of freshly ground or kosher salt.

Mix gently. Ole!