Spring Gardening—How to Plant and Grow Herbs and Tomatoes to Enjoy This Season & in Summer

It’s almost Mother’s Day, which in New Jersey means that its time to start planting warm-weather herbs and vegetables! I don’t plant many veggies, but I like to grow tomatoes and a few easy herbs, both in containers. Check out these growing tips to cultivate some veggies and herbs of your own!

Growing Rosemary

Rosemary is one of my all-time favorite herbs! I had a beautiful and bushy rosemary plant that lasted a few years, but it suddenly died a month or two ago! I used to enjoy cutting a sprig or two often to add to my potatoes. In New Jersey, it is best to plant rosemary this month after the threat of frost is gone, which is after Mother’s Day. I plan to plant some rosemary seeds in a pot on my patio so I can bring it indoors in the winter. The rosemary plant that just died lasted years in a big pot on my patio!

I adore the scent of fresh rosemary, so I also like to cut a sprig of it and keep it in my kitchen. It has such a beautiful scent!

Rosemary Growing Requirements

• Rosemary can be grown outdoors when temperatures are above 55 degrees Fahrenheit or indoors as a houseplant; soak your seeds for at least 24 hours before planting. When planting, simply gently press your seeds into the soil. Don’t cover your rosemary seeds, as they require sunshine to germinate.
• Plant rosemary in a location that gets plenty of sun (such as a southern exposure) and in well-draining sandy or loamy soil
• Once your plant is growing, water it when its soil feels dry to the touch but don’t allow its roots to get too wet. Make sure the pot you use has drainage holes
• A big plus is that rosemary is drought resistant, so it should do well in a summer garden.

Rosemary Recipes

Besides potatoes, rosemary is awesome with chicken, fish, and pork. (Check out my recipe for sheet pan chicken with potatoes and asparagus.) You might also want to take a look at these 20 ways to use rosemary, including infused olive oil and infused salt! Yum!

Planting Fresh Basil

Basil is another yummy herb to plant in the spring and grow throughout summer—it’s low maintenance and is a great crop for beginners!

Basil Growing Requirements

• Plant your basil in sandy, well-drained soil where it can get plenty of sun. If planting it in a pot, choose a large one with drainage holes to prevent its soil from getting too wet. Take care not to overwater it.

Basil Recipes

Basil is ideal for pasta dishes, such as in my one pot cheesy pasta and sausage recipe.

I also love adding my homegrown basil to my Cranberry Basil Goat Cheese Crackers, a great appetizer for Mother’s Day!

Cherry Tomatoes

The only vegetable I plant consistently are cherry tomatoes. I like to grow them in containers as well, so I choose seedlings whose tags say they do well in pots. I generally buy seedlings from my local garden store and transplant them directly into a large (at least 14 inches wide) planter and keep them on my patio; planting seedlings is generally the best way to go for beginners to grow tomatoes as starting them from seed takes much time and patience. When choosing your seedlings, look for bush or patio varieties; they should be short and stocky with dark green and healthy leaves.

Planting Tomatoes

• Plant your tomatoes in a potting mix or a well-draining soil in a sunny location in a planter that has drainage
• For each tomato seedling, use a 5-gallon planter; tomatoes need plenty of room to establish their roots. Mix a slow-release fertilizer into the soil when planting and then add more about a month later. When starting your plants, stick a trellis or stake into the dirt to later support your growing plant.
• When watering, wait until you see it seeping it out of your pot; but be sure to keep your plants’ leaves dry to avoid disease. In warm weather, your tomato plants may need to be watered both in the morning and in the afternoon.

Tomato Recipes

Tomatoes are perfect in all sorts of summer salads—a summer salad almost isn’t a salad without any tomatoes! One of my favorite ways to enjoy tomatoes are in a Caprese salad with mozzarella cheese and a Balsamic vinegar dressing.

Cultivating Cucumbers

I have never planted cucumbers before, but they are supposed to be easy to grow in pots, so I think I’ll give it a try this year! I am going to give myself a good head start by planting cucumber seedings instead of starting them from seed.

Cucumber Planting Tips

• Choose a compact or bush variety if you plan to plant your seedlings in planters—5-gallon containers with drainage should work well. Use potting soil and a pot with drainage holes or a well-draining fabric planter
• Ensure your cucumbers get plenty of sun and water
• Support their growth by adding a slow-release fertilizer and a trellis upon planting; be sure to add more fertilizer about every 4 weeks. Check out this great trellis tutorial for making your own supports for your cucumber plants, such as with tree branches and twine.

Cucumber Recipes

Cucumbers are terrific in sandwiches but they can also add freshness and crunch to sandwiches, such as in this Sweet and Spicy Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe.

Happy planting! Here’s hoping we all have great gardening success this spring and summer!

Have questions or comments? Please feel free to share them in the comments!