Plant what you eat

What recipe defines Summer for you? Is it a fresh Stars and Moon watermelon and feta salad? Crusty BLT with juicy Brandywine tomato slices or grilled sweet corn straight off the stalk?

Plant your garden like you would shop at your grocery store or farmers market. If you love making juices and can’t live without your kale, then there’s a great variety of  cut and come again kale for you. Or, if your tastebuds yearn for a sweet and spicy salsa, plant some Yellow Aji chiles and Strawberry Heart tomatoes that will blow your mind. If your idea of a refreshing summer drink is a mojito, don’t forget to plant a pot full of mint..

To keep it simple, grab your favorite recipe or meal plan, and make a note which fresh produce shows up.

Portion Size?

Like Brad Gates, our legendary, local tomato breeder says, “…I feel like I’m getting robbed if I don’t have at least four colors!”  At home, I planted 25 different varieties one year and could barely figure out what to do with 50 lbs. of tomatoes each week! 

It might be hard, but once you have narrowed it down to a couple varieties, you can add more detail to your garden plan. 

How seedlings of each vegetable should I plant?

When should each be planted, and how often?

Here are some resources to help with planning and timing of your vegetable garden:

• igrow
• Mastergardener
• Gardengate

Pizzaz

Here we are lucky to have access to great farmers and an abundance of produce. If you have limited space try picking out rare varieties or ones with a wow factor. Instead of a Roma, try put in a San Marzano. instead of English cucumbers get some lemon cukes.

We would love to see your starts.