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tomatoes

Vegetables to Plant in July and August in Your Garden

July 20, 2017 by Heather Leister

Welcome Gardening Friend! Glad you dropped in.

It's not too late to plant a vegetable garden in July and August.

Was 2017 the year that you planned to finally get your family garden up and running? Maybe now you’re realizing that it’s July and all you have is a bare patch of soil and good intentions? Not to fear! You still have time to enjoy a fall harvest and make it a family affair! Here are some ideas of vegetables to plant in July and August in your garden.

Here are four fruits and vegetables that are fun to grow, yield a quick crop, and make gardening with the family easy and fun!

Tomatoes: Since tomatoes need to be planted after the danger of frost has passed they’re a possible choice for mid-summer planting. When July’s summer heat kicks into high gear, you’ll want to take precautions to protect the plants from the hottest part of the day, plus plant on a cloudy day or in the evening after the worst heat. Shade coverings, mulch, and adequate & consistent watering will help your tomato plants take off. When starting tomatoes later in the summer it’s also important to select a “short season” variety, one that will be ready for harvest before the fall frost arrives.  There are also some heat tolerant varieties as well, like Grape, Heat Wave II or Fourth of July.

Some varieties of tomatoes are good vegetables to plant in July and August in your garden.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Peppers: Although pepper plants take longer to mature than other vegetables, their fruits can be fun for children (and adults!) to watch as they grow and change color. You’ll find varieties of pepper plants that have Days to Maturity time of 60-70 days.  Examples:  Orange Blaze, Gold Standard, Jalapeno Gigante, or Big Guy. Chick here for more.  Your garden center will also have some seeds and maybe some plants still available to browse through.  Find one that your family will enjoy eating, as well as watching! Remember that some varieties of peppers must be handled with care as they leave a residue on the skin that will cause irritation.

Find a fast maturing pepper to plant later in the season.

Photo Credit: Wiki Media

Pumpkins: Plant pumpkin seeds now and reap some jack-o-lanterns in the fall! But you better hurry!  Pumpkins generally require 75-100 days to maturity. Check the variety!  Hopefully we won’t have a frost until late October.  Your children can watch as the seeds grow into vines that will creep throughout your garden. When selecting your pumpkin seeds, think about the size of your available garden space. You’ll want to choose between between a variety of tiny pumpkins or larger ones that are best suited for carving jack-o-lanterns. No matter what you decide, pumpkins are fun and easy to grow and their seeds make a delicious, roasted treat in the fall.

pumpkins take a longer time to mature.

Photo Credit: Public Domain Pictures

Radishes: Radishes are a terrific addition to the family garden because they are colorful, quick growers. Children can expect to pull up their first crop just a few short weeks after planting the seeds – a very quick garden turnaround! Your family will enjoy watching as the tops of the radish greens emerge from the soil. When they are about one week ole, radish plants should be thinned to approximately two inches apart a job that children can do after some instruction and coaching. Fast growing spring varieties of radishes should be planted when the weather is still cool. However, winter radishes can be planted later in the summer as late as mid-August.  They take longer to grow but will still provide your family with the satisfaction of planting a seed in the ground and pulling a vegetable out of the dirt!

Radishes are great vegetables to plant in July and August in your garden.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

The 2nd Planting List:  Come on in to Western Gardens for an extensive list of  vegetables and herbs that can still be planted in July and August.  To name a few on the list:  arugula, cauliflower, carrots, cabbage, and many many more.

 

Filed Under: Gardening, Kids in the Garden, Vegetables, Veggie Gardening Tagged With: august vegetable garden, Family Garden, july vegetable garden, kids in the garden, late planting, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, second planting, tomatoes, what to plant

Homemade Ketchup Recipe

June 5, 2017 by Jenn Crookston

WELCOME Gardener, Happy to see you here checking out a delicious Homemade Ketchup Recipe for all those tomatoes you are growing!

Homemade ketchup recipe from Western Gardens in UtahAre you looking forward to summertime and all the amazing foods summer brings?  I love picnics and bbq-ing, basically anything that allows me to eat outside and on dishes I don’t have to wash afterward.  One consistent condiment is ketchup, it seems like ketchup goes with just about every summertime meal.
I love trying new recipes, especially recipes that are simple and include items I always have on hand.  Every year we plant a variety of tomato plants and I enjoy using them in the summer and fall.  Unfortunately half of my family are not tomato lovers so I find myself giving tomatoes away so they don’t go to waste.  This year I am determined to learn how to can tomatoes so I can use them all year round and they’re perfect for this Homemade Ketchup Recipe.

Homemade Ketchup RECIPE:

*Whole Peeled Tomatoes, I used 1 large can Whole Peeled Tomatoes (1lb 12oz can)
(I’m looking forward to canning my own tomatoes this year to use for this recipe and many others)
*1/8 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
*1/2 teaspoon Garlic Salt
*1.5 tablespoon Honey
*1-1.5 teaspoon Mustard
*1/4-1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
*1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
*1 teaspoon Onion Powder (can add more to taste)
boil your homemade tomatoes for your ketchup

Homemade Ketchup Recipe INSTRUCTIONS:

*Place all ingredients into a medium-size pot.
*Bring ingredients to a boil over medium-high heat.  Once boiling turn down and simmer for 60 minutes.
*After 60 minutes remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
*Once cool pour into blender and blend until smooth.
*Pour into air-tight container and place in refrigerator for up to 14 days.
Making homemade ketchup from your garden tomatoes is simple and delicious!
While this recipe isn’t the quickest it is quite possibly the simplest recipe you’ll find out there and it is delicious.  I highly recommend making it a couple of days ahead of time, if you can, the more time the flavors have to blend the better it will taste.  I love the rich flavor, I personally love that you can taste more of the tomato flavor and my family all loved it, even the tomato haters, so you don’t have to worry that the flavor is too strong.

I’m excited to bring this delicious ketchup to all our summer gatherings, I can’t wait to try it in homemade fry sauce too!
If you’re planning a bbq this summer or attending one, you need to try one of these amazing salads that are serious crowd pleasers!

Mom’s Potato Salad

Chicken Pasta Caesar Salad

Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Filed Under: Eat from Garden - Recipes, Gardening, How To, Recipes, Utah Gardening, Vegetables Tagged With: eat your garden, garden tomatoes, homemade ketchup, homemade ketchup recipe, ketchup lovers, recipe, recipes, tomatoes

9 Plants you need for your Salsa Garden

May 14, 2016 by Kirsten

Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here!

Love Salsa? Plant a salsa garden and make it fresh! 9 Veggies you need in your Salsa Garden! www.westerngardens.com

DSC_0200

Do you love fresh pico de gallo, chili verde salsa or red salsa with tortilla chips?  Then a Salsa Garden is perfect for you! We love enjoying any of these with our favorite Mexican dishes, and what’s better than being able to make it from fresh veggies from your own garden?!  The taste of homegrown tomatoes vs. store-bought is huge…homegrown tomatoes are so much more delicious and flavorful—and it’s exciting to be able to say “I grew that!”

DSC_0226

If you have never grown a garden in your yard, I suggest getting your soil tested. The cost is about $10 and can be done at USU in Logan, Utah. You can just mail in a sample and they can tell you the P and K levels, pH, salt, and lime content, which can help you find out what your soil might need before you spend money on your plants and take the time to plant and water them. Knowing these levels can help you avoid things like bottom rot and make sure you get the most out of your plants.

Avoid planting your veggies until the overnight temps are at least 50° or above. This is typically around May 15th in Utah.  Watch your local forecast…our Utah weather is famous for being temperamental!

Ready to get started with the 9 veggies?  Click NEXT to see what to plant!

Western Garden Centers | Salt Lake City | Sandy | West Valley UTAH

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Filed Under: Gardening, Tomatoes, Utah Gardening, Vegetables, Veggie Gardening Tagged With: Salsa, salsa garden, tomatillos, tomatoes, vegetables

10 Tomato Varieties You Should Grow

May 4, 2016 by Vanessa Myers

 Welcome!  I’m so happy you’re here!

10 tomato varieties you should grow this year. Unique and delicious tomatoes that you can't beat!

Do you love home-grown tomatoes?  Then you’re in the right place!  There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a vine-ripened tomato fresh from the garden.  They offer bold flavors not usually found in grocery store varieties, which are often chosen for how well they ship and store on the shelf, instead of taste.

You will come across a wide selection of tomato varieties when you are shopping for seeds or starts. Before you rush out to pick out the first tomato plants you see, research what will do best in your yard and fit your culinary needs.

Tomato varieties come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors

Image by aurélien under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

Considerations for Picking Tomato Varieties

General types of tomatoes include:

  • Beefsteak (big, great for slicing)
  • Cherry (small for salads and eating out of hand)
  • Plum (good for sauces and pastes)
  • Salad (medium, good for general use)

Tomatoes are also divided into whether they are determinate or indeterminate. If one is determinate, it will grow to a certain height and width and then stop. One crop will be produced before the plant dies. On the other hand, indeterminate plants will keep growing throughout the season. This is important to know if space is a consideration as indeterminate varieties can turn into a jungle if the conditions are favorable.

Finally, they will be labeled as either hybrid or heirloom. If a plant is hybrid, it is the result of crossing other varieties. They are not likely to retain their desired characteristics if you try to save the seeds for the next year, and they may even be sterile.  In contrast, you can collect seeds from heirlooms because they do generally keep the same genetics in their seeds.

Tomato Varieties to Check Out

The Black Krim tomato can have dark skin and flesh

Image by bert_m_b under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License

1.Black Krim

  • Type: Beefsteak
  • Growth: Indeterminate
  • Genetics: Heirloom
  • Days to Harvest: 80

Interested in trying a tomato that isn’t red? Go for the Black Krim! This Russian variety sports fruit that bears a rich purple-red hue and is packed full of flavor.

Image by timlewisnm under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

Image by timlewisnm under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

2. Brandywine

  • Type: Beefsteak
  • Growth: Indeterminate
  • Genetics: Heirloom
  • Days to Harvest: 78

This is the most common type of heirloom that you will see available for sale, and has been planted since the 1800s. Each pinkish-red tomato can weigh over a pound!

Early Girl tomatoes are indeed one of the first varieties to mature

Image by Prestonbot under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License

3. Early Girl

  • Type: Salad
  • Growth: Indeterminate
  • Genetics: Hybrid
  • Days to Harvest: 54-59

This variety is very popular due to its early harvest date. Early Girl will work well as a general purpose tomato for all of your favorite recipes.

Great White tomatoes will live up to the name and be white in hue

Image by quinn.anya under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

4. Great White

  • Type: Beefsteak
  • Growth: Indeterminate
  • Genetics: Heirloom
  • Days to Harvest: 85

In addition to red, orange, pink, purple, green and yellow, tomatoes can also be white when ripe. This variety is notable for being especially sweet, making it a delight to eat fresh!

Click NEXT for 6 more delicious varieties!

Western Garden Centers | Salt Lake City | Sandy | West Valley UTAH

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Filed Under: Veggie Gardening Tagged With: Gardening, tomato varieties, tomatoes, veggies, Western Gardens

Fresh Tomato Soup

November 4, 2014 by Becky

Fresh tomato soup is one of our family’s favorite go-to soups.  It’s comfort food for sure, and pairs perfectly with grilled cheese (a staple in our home)!  There are variations galore, but this is a basic, actually-tastes-like-garden-fresh-tomatoes soup.

Fresh Tomtato Soup This is one of our favorites, especially when you need something quick on a busy weeknight.  It only takes about 20 minutes to throw together, and you don’t have to have a lot of special ingredients.  Just a few pantry staples and, of course, some lovely ripe tomatoes!

This is a great recipe to double, or even triple, and freeze some for another night.  If tomatoes aren’t in season and you don’t have any left from your garden, you can easily substitute canned tomatoes (use 28 oz whole peeled or diced tomatoes).

Print

Ingredients

3.1
https://westerngardens.com/fresh-tomato-soup/

To make the grilled cheese croutons, butter one side each of two pieces of bread.  Place cheese slices between the bread, making sure the buttered sides are facing out.  Cook in a panini press until both sides are golden brown.  Cut into squares and add to soup.

Fresh Tomtato Soup 5*Butter or avocado oil may be substituted for the coconut oil.

Filed Under: Recipes, Tomatoes Tagged With: food, recipe, recipes, Tomato, tomatoes

Spinach Salad with Marinated Tomato & Basil

September 16, 2014 by Becky

Tomatoes in a salad are nothing new.  More like an old standby, really.  But if you are new to marinating tomatoes before you add them to your salad, this recipe just might knock your socks off!

Spinach SaladPerhaps unless you’re shopping at a farmer’s market, homegrown garden-fresh tomatoes really have no equal.  Even a good, expensive tomato from the grocery store can never compare in flavor and texture to a vine-ripened, juicy tomato from the garden.  John Denver even sang about homegrown tomatoes!  If you’ve never heard the song, give it a listen.  It’s cute…and true.  Winter without homegrown tomatoes is most definitely a “culinary bummer!”

The balsamic dressing for this salad is simple and goes together quickly, but it adds a wonderful dimension to the tomatoes.  With just a few simple ingredients, your side salad will become the highlight of your meal!

Print

Ingredients

3.1
https://westerngardens.com/spinach-salad-marinated-tomato-basil/

Spinach Salad 2Give this simple salad a try and you might just start marinating all your tomatoes!

For more great recipes using tomatoes and basil, check out:

  • Bruschetta
  • Caprese Appetizers
  • Grilled Caprese Sandwiches

Filed Under: Recipes, Tomatoes, Vegetables Tagged With: basil, food, recipes, salad, spinach, tomatoes

Caprese Appetizers

September 10, 2014 by Becky

These beautiful caprese appetizers are the perfect addition to any meal.  They are light, full of flavor, and fun to make!  You will love them because they are easy and delicious…and when the tomatoes and basil come out of your garden, they’re inexpensive too!  (And who doesn’t love that?!)caprese appetizer 5

One of the very best summer tastes is a garden-fresh homegrown tomato.  And one of my favorite garden-fresh tomatoes is the Sunsugar cherry tomato.  They’re sweet and delicious…and perfect for an appetizer like this!  Especially if your plants are producing more than you can eat and you need more ideas to use them up!  (Because when my sunsugar plant starts producing, I can hardly keep up with it!)

caprese appetizer 3

Stack it with some basil, balsamic, bread & cheese, and you’ve got an appetizer that just might ruin your dinner!

Print

Ingredients

3.1
https://westerngardens.com/caprese-appetizers/

For the most amazingly easy way to slice cherry tomatoes in seconds, see our tutorial!

caprese appetizer 2 This is a fun appetizer to customize any way you want it.  Change up the order of ingredients, or the way you assemble it!  Or even make each of them different.  No matter how you put them together, they taste incredible and you won’t be able to stop at just one!  It’s the perfect combination of flavors…which means you might not save room for dinner.  But when the appetizers are this good, who cares?!

Filed Under: Recipes, Tomatoes, Vegetables Tagged With: appetizers, basil, food, recipes, tomatoes

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