The shorter the distance food travels from farm to table, the better it tastes. Ask anyone who has snipped fresh basil or a homegrown tomato still warm from the sun.

Try these 5 tips for planting your homegrown garden:

  1. Whether you have a large traditional garden or a few herb containers, you'll enjoy a steady supply of just-picked summer flavours. At summer's end, just cut and thoroughly air-dry your herb harvest, then store in air-tight containers.
  2. Start by selecting healthy nursery stock of basil, parsley (both curly and flat), rosemary, and mint for a flavour palette that ranges from savoury to sharp.
  3. Plant after the possibility of frost has passed. Herbs love sun and generally take well to close quarters. You can tuck a few of each in a small patch of well-drained soil or a single generous container, with a few exceptions. Basil favours a bit more elbow room; it will thrive in deep, rich soil, and reward you with ample harvest. Mint, incomparable for its bright flavour, is also aggressive. To prevent a hostile takeover, give it a pot of its own and avoid planting it directly into the garden.
  4. Its easy enough to add a tomato plant or two. Look for varieties particularly suited to growing in containers. If you do have room, nothing says "summer garden" like a lush, sprawling courgette vine.
  5. Vitamix recipes often call for very small amounts of herbs. That's because the powerful Vitamix blades extract maximum flavour from every part of the plant, similar to the way crushing a clove of fresh garlic releases significantly more flavour than merely slicing it.

Take advantage of fresh garden flavours with these simple Vitamix recipes:

California Salsa

Ginger Citrus Salad Dressing

Honey Orange Cleanse

Bacon Cheddar Potato Soup

With a little effort, you can enjoy exquisitely fresh produce all summer long. Even a tiny garden will produce a pleasing bumper crop by August. Plus, your Vitamix is perfect for preserving that bounty in delicious, freezer-ready soups and sauces.