My 2026 Salsa & Snacking Garden: Tomatoes, Jalapeños, Peppers, Cucumbers & Herbs
I am so excited about my little garden this year!
Typically, we plant in our large garden area behind our barn. This year, however, I wanted something smaller and more manageable. Our garden is tucked behind our detached garage workshop, right next to the kids' mud kitchen, making it a fun space for the whole family.
The wooden boxes were stored in the loft of our barn and were previously used as bases for metal feeding troughs. We moved them here to create simple garden beds and plan to use them for years to come. While they aren't completely filled with soil yet, I think they'll continue to improve as we add compost and organic matter each season. I also love that we can continue using our old fencing tomato cages inside them!
The garden is watered with a drip irrigation system on a timer, which makes maintenance simple and efficient.
Growing Zone: USDA Zone 6b/7a (Northern Utah)
In reference to the main photo, we planted:
- Beefsteak Tomatoes – perfect for sandwiches, burgers, and pizza
- San Marzano Tomatoes – ideal for salsa, sauces, and canning
- Sun Sugar Tomatoes – sweet and delicious for garden snacking
- San Joaquin Jalapeños – a milder pepper that works great in salsa
- Golden California Wonder Bell Peppers – sweet, colorful peppers for fresh eating and salsa
- Gherkin Cucumbers – perfect for popping into your mouth right off the vine
Between the tomato cages, I placed herb pots. I plan to plant basil and may also add thyme, sage, oregano, or rosemary. Cilantro and parsley are already planted, and we have chives growing elsewhere in the yard.
With the tomatoes and peppers, I plan to make fresh oven-roasted homemade salsa using vegetables and herbs from the garden. My favorite recipe is Natasha's Kitchen's roasted salsa—it's seriously the best! We also love snacking on cherry tomatoes and cucumbers throughout the summer, and they make a great addition to fresh salads.
Natasha Kravchuk
My daughter especially loves the cucumbers, while my oldest son can't get enough cherry tomatoes. My youngest son is a big fan of BLTs, making fresh garden tomatoes a must-have in our summer garden. Watching the kids enjoy food we've grown ourselves is one of my favorite parts of gardening.
In the picture, you can also see some of our raspberry bushes, with strawberries planted around the corner. The children started a grapevine from seed along the fence at the back of this garden area and are eagerly waiting to see if it grows into something special.
As I work toward eating a lower-histamine, anti-inflammatory diet, I love having fresh herbs and vegetables right outside my back door.
While visiting the nursery, I also picked up some dorotheanthus, calibrachoa, and petunias for my hanging baskets. The bright colors make me so happy every time I step onto the back porch!
The night before we planted, we had a wonderful rainstorm. The dry earth was replenished, and the next day was absolutely beautiful—cool, fresh, and rejuvenating. It was the perfect day to spend outside planting.
For the front yard, I purchased two Coleus caninus plants, often called "scaredy-cat plants," to help discourage neighborhood cats from using my flower beds as a litter box. I also planted a new perennial, sweet woodruff, which I'm excited to watch fill in over time.
I love plants, gardening, and creating beautiful spaces around our home!
What are you growing in your garden this year? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!
Much L💛VE,
Breanna
Published on June 2, 2026