Home grown tomatoes, basil, and parsley take on a life of their own. A home-grown tomato has explosive flavor with its rich color, aroma, and texture. The strong scent of basil in the garden, or on a kitchen windowsill is an aromatic delight. Fresh basil added to a marinara sauce, or a margarita pizza, makes a delicious statement. Parsley added to an entrée will bring all the flavors in a recipe together, from a potato and egg omelet to an olive oil salt, and pepper marinate.
There are different varieties of tomato, such as cherry tomatoes, better boy tomatoes, beef steak tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, etc… Each tomato serves a different purpose and ripens at different times of the season. Cherry tomatoes ripen first, and throughout the entire season. Cherry tomatoes are a healthy bite size snack for children, and adults. Better boy tomatoes are perfect for salads and to enhance the main course of a meal. The beef steak tomato is generally used for mozzarella caprese, or to top a hamburger straight off the barbecue. I enjoy cooking my heirloom tomatoes into a light summer sauce mixed with squash over thin spaghetti.
You can grow a tomato plant in a simple terracotta pot around 18 to 24 inches tall on a balcony, a patio, or a front porch. I grow my tomato plants in a 4 foot by 8 foot 24-inch-tall box garden I only use organic soil. It is best to space tomato plants 36 inches apart. I support my tomato plants with 6-foot poles because I do not want the tomato resting on the soil. I like to keep the soil moist to promote plant growth and the development of the tomato. I find it very therapeutic checking on the plants daily. I do not use any pesticides nor chemicals to fertilize the soil so by looking after the garden daily I can make sure no insects are attacking the plants.
Basil plants are the most aromatic plant in the garden. Basil plants generally grow to a height of 24 to 30 inches tall and should be planted 18 inches apart in a garden. Basil plants can grow in a 12-inch-tall terracotta pot on a kitchen counter or a windowsill. Basil plants need full sun and moist soil. You can pick the leaves from the basil plant, according to your need and still maintain a healthy plant all season.
Parsley is also aromatic and extremely easy to grow in a small space. Parsley plants can also grow in a 12-inch-tall terracotta pot on a windowsill. Parsley plants grow to a height of 12-18 inches and should be planted 15-18 inches apart in a garden. Parsley plants need some shade, and moist soil.
Once you have enjoyed home grown tomatoes, basil, and parsley it is going to be awfully hard to eat anything you buy in a supermarket.
