Grow A Salsa Garden in Only 16 Square Feet: Zones 5 & 6

There's nothing quite as rewarding—and tasty—as harvesting ingredients fresh from your backyard to create delicious homemade salsa. A salsa garden is easy to maintain, great for small spaces, and provides everything you need for flavorful, nutritious homemade salsa.

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Choosing Your Plants

The foundation of fresh, homemade salsa is tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, onions, and cilantro. Several optional herbs or veggies, like parsley, garlic, beans, or sweet corn, are popular. You might want to add a squirt of lime.

Tomatoes

Choose paste tomato varieties for a meaty, low-moisture flesh that's ideal for salsa. I also like to add cherry tomatoes for that sweet zing and a slicer for some natural juice. Their citrusy, sweet-tart fruit is indispensable in authentic salsa. Tomatillos add tanginess and authenticity to traditional salsa.

Tomatoes are such a personal choice, go with your favorites!

• Paste Tomatoes: Meaty, low-water content, excellent for thick salsa. My favorites are ‘Amish Paste’, 'San Marzano', or 'Speckled Roman'

• Cherry Tomatoes: Adds sweetness. My favorites is ‘Sun Gold’

• Slicer: ‘Rutgers’ is my all around favorite tomato, ‘Valencia,’ or ‘Box Car Willie’…

• Tomitillo’s: ‘Toma Verde’

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Peppers

Like tomatoes, peppers come in many varieties, from very sweet to very hot. Grow a mix that suits your taste buds.

• Jalapeños: The classic salsa pepper with medium heat. I personally don’t do a lot of spice, but I have family members who love a bit of heat. So, I grow a traditional Jalapeño plant.

• Habanero or Serrano: I don’t do hot, but you may want a hot, spicy salsa.

• Bell Peppers: Adds sweetness, perfect for milder salsas. I love banana peppers (and they are so prolific) that I grow a banana and as sweet bell in my salsa garden.

Onions & Garlic

• Onions: My salsa garden has some red and yellow onions. Red onions offer the best flavor. Yellow onions are great if you want a sweeter salsa.

• Garlic: The thing about garlic is you plant it in the fall. So, technically, it’s not part of the salsa garden. However, it adds wonderful flavor to many salsas. Read my article How To Grow The Best Garlic

Cilantro

• Adds a fresh, citrusy kick. Essential in salsa recipes. Santo from Johnny’s Seeds is my favorite variety and I also like Calypso.

Optional Additions

The fun thing about salsa is that it can be modified to meet your tastes and how you want to serve it.

• Sweet Corn: Adds sweetness and texture to your salsa.

• Parsley: I love adding parsley to my salsa

• Dry beans: My favorite dry bean to grow is Black Turtle beans, which are wonderful in Latin American cooking. Learn more about growing dry beans in my video.

Growing dry beans is a great way to fill your pantry for winter

Timing & Planting

Most salsa ingredients thrive in warm weather. Start seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before your area's last frost date. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the risk of frost has passed and soil temperatures are consistently above 60°F (16°C).

Know your micro-climate and plant accordingly

Garden Layout

Use raised beds, containers, or a dedicated garden plot. Tomatoes and peppers need full sun (6-8 hours/day) and well-drained soil enriched with organic compost. Plant tomatoes 18-24 inches apart and peppers about 12-18 inches apart.

Onions and garlic prefer slightly cooler temperatures, so plant early in spring or late in the fall. Cilantro prefers cooler temperatures and will bolt quickly in the heat; succession planting ensures a steady harvest.

Care and Maintenance

• Watering: Consistent moisture is key, especially for tomatoes and peppers. Aim for about an inch of water per week.

• Mulching: Helps conserve moisture, controls weeds, and maintains soil temperature.

• Fertilizing: Use organic fertilizers like compost or fish emulsion monthly to support steady growth and abundant harvests.

Harvesting Tips

• Tomatoes are ripe when firm but yielding to slight pressure and fully colored.

• Peppers can be harvested at any stage, though fully ripe peppers are sweeter.

• Cilantro leaves can be harvested anytime; cutting encourages more growth.

Homemade Garden Fresh Salsa Recipe

Enjoy the fruits of your garden with this fresh, flavorful salsa!

Ingredients:

• 4-5 Roma tomatoes, diced

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 1-2 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped (leave seeds for extra heat!)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

• Juice of 1 lime

• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, garlic, and cilantro in a bowl.

2. Add lime juice and salt to taste. Mix well.

3. Let sit for at least 30 minutes to meld flavors. Refrigerate if serving later.

Enjoy your homemade salsa fresh from your backyard garden!

Delicious Ways to Use Homemade Salsa

1. Classic Dipping Sauce

• Serve with crispy tortilla chips, fresh veggies, or pita chips.

2. Taco Night

• Top your tacos, burritos, fajitas, or quesadillas to add freshness and zing.

3. Breakfast Boost

• Spoon over scrambled eggs, omelets, or breakfast burritos for a flavorful morning kick.

4. Salsa Chicken

• Bake or simmer chicken breasts or thighs smothered in salsa for a quick, tasty dinner.

5. Loaded Nachos

• Layer over tortilla chips with beans, cheese, olives, and jalapeños for delicious nachos.

6. Salad Dressing

• Mix salsa with a bit of lime juice, olive oil, and honey for a tasty, quick vinaigrette.

7. Grain Bowls

• Add salsa to rice, quinoa, or grain bowls for extra flavor and moisture.

8. Chili & Soups

• Stir salsa into soups, chili, or stews for added depth and brightness.

9. Baked Potato Topping

• Top baked or roasted potatoes with salsa and sour cream for a zesty flavor.

10. Burger & Sandwich Spread

• Replace ketchup or mayo with salsa for a healthier, vibrant sandwich topping.

11. Fish or Shrimp Topping

• Spoon over grilled fish or shrimp tacos for a delightful seafood treat.

12. Salsa Pasta

• Mix salsa into warm pasta with olive oil, veggies, and cheese for a quick, flavorful pasta dish.

13. Avocado Toast

• Spread onto avocado toast with a sprinkle of feta or cotija cheese.

14. Salsa Pizza

• Use salsa as a pizza sauce base, topping with cheese, veggies, and meats.

15. Mexican Omelet

• Fold salsa, cheese, beans, and veggies into your omelet for a tasty twist.

Enjoy experimenting with these delicious ways to savor your homemade garden-fresh salsa!

Author, Ame Vanorio, is a Master Gardener, Environmental Educator, and Author.