I am so excited for cooler weather coming in the fall! Right now it’s so hot I only go out after 6pm or first thing in the morning and this is really cramping my gardening girl style! Since I don’t want to be out in the heat, I am inside enjoying the air conditioner and planning my fall rainbow garden. This garden is going to be both
B-E-A-utiful and nutritious, and if there happens to be a pot of gold at the end of it, that would be cool too!
What makes fruits and vegetables different colors?
Eating a variety of colors in your diet is an easy way to ensure you get all the nutrients you need. The colors in fruits and vegetables are created by phytonutrients, which are naturally occurring compounds that protect the plants from germs, bugs, sun and other threats. And when we eat those plants, we benefit from the phytonutrients too! They aren’t essential to our survival like vitamins and minerals, but they can prevent disease and help your body be at it’s best. If you are sick of feeling tired and prematurely old, this article is for you!
Do you think you are eating a rainbow each day? (I’m not talking about Skittles here)
0%Of course I am! I love eating fresh produce.
0%Uh, No! I’d rather open a bag of chips!
What am I going to grow for my rainbow?
I’m sure this won’t come as a surprise, but most people do not get the nutrients they need. So, let’s take a look at what the color of your food can tell you about its nutrition and which plants I am going to use in my rainbow garden.
Red produce has lycopene and ellagic acid, which are known for fighting cancer, reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes and improve your skin quality. I am going to grow Japanese Giant Red Mustard. These purple-red leaves have a
delicious, strong, sharp, almost garlic-like, mustard flavor. My friend Bobbie said if I would grow it, she would cook them up for me, southern style with some fat back. I am still learning the ways of southern cooking, so at my house it’ll go into stir fry. I also plan on planting an extra patch of these in my annual fall flower beds because the broad purple-red leaves are an awesome contrast to pansies.
Have you ever heard of PINK CELERY?! How amazing will these look in potato salad and tuna salad?!? They taste just the same as regular celery, but are WAY cooler if you ask me. Celery is very easy to grow, even for beginner gardeners. Who knows, you might even be able to trick your kiddos into eating it too!
I will be growing some baby carrots to hit that orange spectrum! I would have chosen sweet potatoes, but they don’t handle a freeze AT ALL and this is my fall garden after all. Orange is going to give me improved immune function, promote eye health and further reduce my risk of heart disease.
This variety of carrot is called Little Finger. It’s mature at 3 inches and is perfect for throwing in my lunch box. I need all the help I can get to stay on track when I am at work. I can also chop it up and use it with the pink celery for soup bases! It only takes 55 days to maturity, which is good for my impatient side. I’m going to use a grow bag for this guy since he needs light and fluffy soil and plenty of room to grow down.
Green produce boosts the immune system, helps detox the body and restores energy and vitality. I am going to grow Lacinato kale and Spinach for my greens. Both are awesome in smoothies and stir fry. The lacinato kale has beautiful, deep black-green leaves that can be 24" long. This Italian heirloom is popular in Tuscany and central Italy for making fabulous soups and stews. This is one of the most beautiful and flavorful types you can grow, and one of the healthiest green vegetables. It can have up to three times the recommended daily vitamin A, plus loads of minerals, calcium, and vitamin C, as well as lots of fiber and protein. A truly a miraculous plant from historic Italy!
I also want to include this Japanese Flowering Kale.
This delectable kale has dramatic ruffles, sublime flavor and dense nutrition. The plants are super frost hardy, and their color and sweetness actually intensify as the weather gets colder! This is another of the plants I will also be putting in my annual flower beds for it’s beauty!
This cauliflower does not have a very romantic name- Song TJS65. I haven’t had a ton of luck growing cauliflower, but this one has a solid rep of being easy to grow. It is sweeter and more tender that your standard white stem varieties normally grown here in the states. The white vegetables protect against certain cancers, keep your bones strong and are a heart healthy choice.
I am still on the hunt for cold weather loving yellow vegetables, so if you have any suggestions, please comment below! Park Seed Company is a sponsor for this webpage. If you want to support my plant addiction, you can go to their website and order your seeds! Thank you for your support!!! Let’s get growing!