Tanger Atlantic City Garden Spring ‘26 Update
We all survived the winter, making the arrival of spring that much sweeter. And what screams spring and sweetness in the garden? STRAWBERRIES! We never planted any strawberries at Tanger AC, but boy do we have quite the patch. A passing seagull must have dropped some seeds and blessed us with this gorgeous spring fruit. In the gardening world, when a plant pops up that you did not plant, it's called a volunteer. I'm looking forward to these volunteers and hope everyone helps themselves before the birds get them!
The summer crop just got planted, so what's on deck this season? We have the almighty kale, colorful rainbow Swiss chard, a variety of peppers, eggplant, some herbs including parsley and basil, and red lettuce that will kick off the harvest season.
Hoping to get some tomatoes and cucumbers in the ground after the strawberries do their thing.
Don't forget to watch out for the pollinator flowers. The lavender is sure to be impressive this year, as well as the black-eyed Susan and yarrow, which think they own the place!
In This Spring
KALE
One of the most beloved crops in our gardens, kale thrives in cool weather and is planted before the last frost, giving it a head start on the season and making it one of the first crops ready for harvest.
Fun Facts About Kale
Taste & Texture: Flavor ranges from mild and sweet in young leaves to earthy and slightly bitter in mature ones- a quick massage with olive oil softens both the leaves and the bite.
Nutrition & Calories: Just one cup of raw kale delivers over 100% of the daily value for Vitamins K, A, and C, all for around 33 calories. It's also a surprising plant-based source of calcium.
Culinary Uses: Very versatile- can be eaten raw in salads, blended into smoothies, roasted into chips, or sautéed as a side. It holds up better to heat than most leafy greens.
Harvest: Kale is a "cut and come again" crop meaning that harvesting outer leaves regularly actually encourages the plant to keep producing all season long!