Grow A Rainbow

adminIn The Garden
Gardens motivate all of us to try new fruits and vegetables. We are eager to taste the ‘fruits’ of our labor and quickly learn that those healthy foods are tasty, too. Gardening with your kids in particular will get them excited about the plants on their plate and it will also provide you with a bountiful supply of fresh produce.
 
So how do you begin? Here’s a fun, tasty way to Grow A Rainbow from the National Garden Association.
 
Rainbow-Garden-of-Unusual-Vegetables
 
 
The best way to launch a successful garden is to start small and choose varieties that do well in your area. You might start with vegetables you already enjoy, or try selecting plants around a theme such as a rainbow garden to pique your interest.
 
Many of the pigments responsible for the color of fruits and vegetables are also linked to different health benefits. Plants have pigments to protect them from environmental factors (such as sunlight) and from harmful byproducts of plant processes like photosynthesis. When we consume fruits and vegetables, we receive benefits from these pigments that are similar to what they do for the plant and we get protection from environmental factors and cell-damaging chemical byproducts.
 
Your garden can provide all the produce you need to create a colorful plate. Here are a few planting ideas:
  • Red: strawberries, watermelon, tomatoes, red peppers, radishes, beets, red onions, raspberries
  • Yellow/orange: cantaloupe, butternut squash, carrots, yellow peppers, pumpkin, rutabagas, summer squash, sweet corn, sweet potatoes
  • Green: honeydew melon, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, green beans, green cabbage, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, leeks, scallions, peas, green peppers, snow peas, sugar snap peas, zucchini
  • Blue/Purple: blackberries, blueberries, purple cabbage, eggplant, purple peppers
  • White: cauliflower, garlic, kohlrabi, onions, parsnips, potatoes, white corn, turnips.

Enjoy the fruits of your labour and your garden.  We would love to see your garden this summer, share with us on twitter @talkpoppy, pinterest, facebook or instagram.