Grow Your Garden

Dallas Farmers Market digs into spring planting season for your garden

Now is the time for tomatoes.

Photo by Ashley Tobar

It may be barely April, but spring is already in full swing. This lovely outdoor weather has us dreaming of al fresco meals full of fresh fruits and veggies, and if you want that homegrown produce on your summer table then now is the time to start planning — and planting — ahead.

Whether you're an experienced green thumb or a novice gardener, there's no better place to stock up on your gardening needs than the Dallas Farmers Market. Dust off those gardening gloves, stock up on supplies, and get the expert advice you need from those who grow at DFM.

This bustling hub for gardening, farm-fresh vegetables, wholesome produce, dairy, and more, right in the middle of downtown Dallas, is dedicated to educating the community about living a more natural and balanced way. Every week, you'll find Bonton Farms and Heddin Family Farms at the market, offering gardening advice that's specific to Dallas' sometimes persnickety conditions.

One piece of advice you might hear if you swing by this weekend? Get those tomato starts or pots planted in the next few weeks to enjoy a luscious bounty come June. Experienced gardeners from Ruibal's — which has been selling plants at the Dallas Farmers Market since 1984 — have selections of the best varieties for the Dallas area.

If you're in need of planters, head to Luxe District Collective in The Market building for sleek concrete options to give your garden a facelift.

Plus if you plant those tomatoes now, then you'll have the chance to enter them in the DFM's Tomato Round-Up contest, where you can compete with your best beefsteak, cherry, Baxter's Early Bush, Juliet, Small Fry, Better Boy, Big Box, Carnival, Homestead, Big Beef, and Celebrity tomatoes. Be on the lookout for dates and more info in the coming weeks.

Of course, there's so much to discover beyond tomatoes at the Dallas Farmers Market. Right now you can scoop up peppermint, lemongrass, chocolate mint, stevia, and aloe vera, along with herbs such as rosemary, oregano, and basil. Citronella plants will come in handy once the mosquitos start to descend, while strawberries are always welcome. Take your pick of peppers with both sweet and hot banana, poblano, habanero, cayenne, tabasco, and Big Bertha varieties.

Most are $4 per container, or $30 per flat. Aloe vera and citronella will run you $10 a piece, with rosemary costing $5.

While you're at the Dallas Farmers Market, take time to visit its many vendors and restaurants.

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Supermarket News

Tom Thumb debuts 2 new supermarkets in the Dallas area

Courtesy photo

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Venerable supermarket chain Tom Thumb is celebrating the opening of two new stores in the Dallas area.

Sanger
A new Tom Thumb opened in Sanger at 1413 W Chapman Drive in Sanger on December 12. The long-awaited store spans 50,000 square feet with tens of thousands of items plus more than 1,000 local products.

The store features a bakery, deli, meat & seafood, produce, and floral, as well as an in-store Starbucks coffee kiosk, pharmacy in store plus drive-thru lane, and Drive-Up-N-Go grocery pick-up.

“We are so excited to open this Tom Thumb for the Sanger communities," says Division President Bill Neve in a statement. “Tom Thumb is excited to showcase our full-service grocery store and fresh new items that customers in Sanger will love."

Sunnyvale
On December 17, a Tom Thumb will open in Sunnyvale at 3400 N. Belt Line Rd. The first 300 shoppers will receive a bag of groceries, and all shoppers will enjoy the incredible deals and sensational offerings.

The Sunnyvale store is slightly larger, spanning 59,000 square feet, but with a similar lineup of bakery, deli, meat & seafood, produce, and floral. The store will also feature an in-store Starbucks coffee kiosk, pharmacy in store plus drive-thru lane, and Drive-Up-N-Go grocery pick-up. The Sunnyvale in-store Starbucks kiosk is the first for Tom Thumb to offer mobile ordering in addition to in-store ordering.

Division President Bill Neve says that they're "incredibly grateful to the town of Sunnyvale for their support of this new store and have been looking forward to meeting our newest customers and welcome them into their Tom Thumb!"

Store details
Store details include:

Prepared foods: Sushi made in-store, full-service salad case, hot line offerings, 400-plus cheese and charcuterie items, and what they call "the best fried chicken in town"
Bakery: Bread baked daily, deserts, five-star cake decorator on staff, in-store fried doughnuts, and exclusive items such as Christie’s cookies and Blue Bell ice cream cakes
Floral: Texas grown poinsettias for the holidays, bouquets, and arrangements, FTD service, balloon bar
Meat & Seafood: USDA choice and prime beef, organic and grass-fed, plus seafood purchases steamed at no additional charge
Wine and Beer: More than 1,000 wines and 85 local Texas craft brews

Starbucks coffee baristas are ready to make customers’ favorite beverages whether they are hot or cold, including Nitro and Cold Brew, along with Starbucks brand pastries.

supermarkets openings