Spring vegetables are in. The Vegetable Garden has been planted, let the warm weather begin.

As long as I’ve been in California, and it’s been a loooooong time, I’ve always done some kind of vegetable gardening (even if it was just a couple of tomatoes in pots.  I guess it’s because growing up, my parents had a HUGE garden and I learned what a real tomato tastes like, and it’s nothing like those rubber balls they sell in the grocery stores marked ‘tomatoes’.

I know the cool thing to do now is grow your own vegetables, even Michelle Obama has started a White House garden, but even if you throw some herbs in a pot and use them in your cooking you’ll be hooked.  Gardening is not difficult – seriously, it’s  not.  Plus, if you put some tomatoes in the ground (or a pot) you’ll make lots of friends when you deliver the extras to your neighbors or co-workers.  Last summer, I had so many tomatoes I made up several bags (a great use for those extra plastic grocery bags that are lying around) and gave them to any of my neighbors that were outside.  Now I get lots of invitations to come over for drinks or receive special recipes, among other things.  Some of these neighbors I had never talked to before.

If you don’t know how to garden, it’s really very simple.  I’ll give you some of my tips, but if you want to learn more you can either ask at your local nursery or check out out some gardening videos.  I cheat a little bit… I buy plants from my favorite nursery.  I don’t have good luck with seeds and I don’t have anywhere to properly start them.  If you’re just starting to get the planting bug right now, you may also be a little too late to start seeds for your garden – so just pick up some vegetable garden plants.

• Prep your soil with chicken manure.  (You can get this at nurseries or your favorite big box store – this is not fresh/raw manure its in fertilizer form) I know, gross, and it does have a bit of a smell (your dog will love it, so make sure you fence your garden).  But this stuff has never failed me.
• Plant in full sun
• Water frequently when plants are new

San Marzano Tomato Plant

This year I’ve got 6 types of tomatoes, a tomatillo plant, a red bell pepper, cucumbers, tarragon, basil, thyme, and chives.  These are the annual visitors that join my ridiculously huge rosemary bush and lavendar plant.  I’ll give you some updates as to how the garden is progressing.  And definitely share the recipes.  Mmmmmmm I can already taste the fresh tomatoes, basil, and burrata cheese with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Now get out there and plant some herbs or vegetable plants.