Grow a Mexican Vegetable Garden

Bring the flavors of Mexico to your table when you grow vegetables and herbs to prepare black beans, minty Mojito, and other south-of-the-border dishes.

By: Lynn Coulter

Related To:

Photo By: Courtesy of Ball Horticultural

Photo By: Image courtesy of Bullfrog & Baum

Photo By: Courtesy of Ball Horticultural

Photo By: Image courtesy of iStock

Photo By: Courtesy of Ball Horticultural

Bell Pepper 'Sweet Heat'

Used green or red, bell pepper 'Sweet Heat' has a smoky, mildly spicy flavor. It's great for stuffing with rice, Mexican cheese, ground beef and zesty, chili-style tomatoes.

Tomatillos

Also known as "tomato verde" or green tomatoes, tomatillos have inedible, papery husks that conceal cherry tomato-sized fruits that can be used for Mexican soups, salsas and pork dishes, among others.

Epazote

Valued by the Aztecs for culinary and medicinal uses, epazote is an herb that has naturalized in the U.S., even growing as a roadside weed. Used fresh, its strong, pungent taste can be an acquired taste. It's often used in tamales, black beans, enchiladas and other dishes.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is an easy-to-grow, aromatic herb used to make mojito cocktails. The plants like damp soil and take full sun to shade. Mints spread vigorously, so control them by pulling them or growing them in containers.

Red Jalapeno Peppers

Fiery jalapeno peppers are great for pickling, stuffing, chopping into stews, sauces and salsas, stirring into chili or eating raw. Start the seeds indoors before the last expected frost or plant in the garden when the weather is reliably warm.

Cilantro 'Santo'

'Santo' is a slow-bolting variety of cilantro, an herb that people tend to either love or hate. The leaves have a strong taste—some describe it as soapy—but they add a layer of flavor to many Mexican recipes.

Pepper 'Cajun Belle'

This All-America Selections winner, 'Cajun Belle', is a slightly spicy-flavored bell pepper. At just 2 feet tall and wide, it's a good choice for a Mexican container garden.

Cumin

Frequently used in Mexican dishes, cumin is an annual herb in the parsley family. Let the seed pods turn brown before harvesting them; then cut the stems and hang them upside down in a paper bag. When the pods open and release the seeds, store them in an airtight container or use them fresh.

Pepper 'Tangerine Dream'

Orange-red 'Tangerine Dream' peppers are as pretty to look at as they are good to eat. The flavor is mostly sweet, with a hint of heat. For a portable Mexican garden, grow the bushy, compact plants in containers.

Grow a Mexican Vegetable Garden

Related To:

Bell Pepper 'Sweet Heat'

Tomatillos

Epazote

Red Jalapeno Peppers

Cilantro 'Santo'

Pepper 'Cajun Belle'

Cumin

Pepper 'Tangerine Dream'

Shop This Look

Next Up

Keyhole Gardens: Growing Food in Arid Regions 13 Photos

13 of the Healthiest Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden 13 Photos

15 Harvesting Tips for Edibles 16 Photos

14 Colorful Vegetables to Try in Your Garden 14 Photos

Tour a Cape Cod Homesteader's Garden 34 Photos

8 Cold-Hardy Winter Vegetables 8 Photos

12 Must-Have Vegetable Varieties 12 Photos

Creative Garden Tattoos 18 Photos

Designing an Edible Landscape 12 Photos

15 Favorite Fruits & Vegetables 15 Photos

We Recommend

15 Herbs That Grow in the Shade 15 Photos

20 Beautiful Plant + Flower Pots to Snag for Spring 20 Photos

Cottage Gardens We Love 42 Photos

What's Your Birth Month Flower? 13 Photos

Outdoor Oasis: Tropical Backyard Garden 18 Photos

7 Shrubs for Shade Gardens 8 Photos