One of the best places to find garden fresh veggies and herbs to cook with can be in your own backyard. With some simple planning and a little effort you can grow veggies that are easily used in recipes and herbs that will add character to your cooking.

Now is the ideal time to start warm season crops. Some fruits and veggies to consider are corn, cucumber, squash, peppers and tomatoes.

Garden fresh tomatoes and peppers make for amazing summer salsas. Tomatoes and tomatillos are key salsa ingredients. Heirloom tomatoes are popular in salsas because of their relative sweetness and low acidity. If heirlooms are too intimidating try any large meaty variety.

Tomatillos are a Mexican variety of husked tomato; the fruit splitting through its papery brown husk indicates tomatillos ripeness. The husk should be removed before cooking. To really bring out the sweet citrus flavor of the tomatillo try charring the fruit on a barbeque and blending until chunky. Tomatillos can be used in sauces, dips, or as an addition to salsa.

Both tomatillos and tomatoes should be staked to support their weight and vine structures. There are a huge number of peppers available that thrive in Sacramento?s climate. Consult a gardeners guide or the info cards on the pots at the nursery for the temperature and intensity of a pepper. Once you have all the ingredients try foodtv.com for a variety of salsa recipes.

Herbs also grow great in the summer and will have the most impact upon improving your foods flavor. Easy-to-grow herbs that thrive in this area include basil, cilantro, mint, sage, and rosemary. Basil is a great addition to any pasta sauce, stew or fish dish and can even be used to liven up a jarred spaghetti sauce. Cilantro is the secret ingredient to jazzing up salsa and stir-fry. Mint is a refreshing addition to teas, soups, salads, sauces, jellies and fruit cups. Mint also finds a home on many plates as a simple garnish; use the sprig on the tip to add color and flavor to any plate. Sage adds character to sauces, soups and teas as well as provides an interesting garnish. Rosemary grows with ease and adds amazing aromas to jellies, sauces, stews, roasts, marinades and barbequed foods. For a real twist in cooking with rosemary try removing the leaves and using the stem as a stick for shish kabobs on the barbeque.

If you are big on the idea of gardening but short on space try growing your garden in flowerpots or containers. Most veggies and herbs all do well in containers. The containers used should be at least 9 inches across and large enough to hold at least one cubic foot of soil. It is important that the container has at least four ½ to ¾ inch holes in the bottom and avoid resting the container directly on the ground to allow for drainage. Use a high quality potting mix for best results and allow six or more hours of direct sunlight per day with regular watering.

Corn, cucumber, and squash can all be started from seeds. Tomatoes and peppers are available in small pots for transplanting at most nurseries and hardware stores. Some local favorite nurseries that have great quality fauna include Matsuda?s on the Jackson Highway at the corner of Florin-Perkins Road, and Talini?s on Folsom at 65th Avenue. For the day-trippers and more adventurous gardeners, a short trip to Calistoga can take you to Forni-Brown Gardens. Forni-Brown sells the most sought after and highest quality tomatoes, peppers, herbs, sunflowers and greens in the state. Public sale dates and directions can be obtained by calling (707) 942-6123.