Smoothies make a great meal in a glass. Whether you enjoy the odd one, or you are on a smoothie kick, you might be aware of how expensive it can get having to buy tons of fruit and veggies. That is not to mention the cost of your plant-based milk (if you are going that route), and any extras such as seeds or powders that you like to add.
One great antidote to this is to grow some smoothies supplies for yourself. You might have a whole garden bed to spare, or just a patio or a window box, but whatever the case, you can start growing your own ingredients.
It is such a wonderful thing to be in charge of your own food production, knowing that it was grown without harmful chemicals and that it made it to your plate (glass) with minimal food milage. You also can be in control of how much your harvest meaning the end of fermenting berries and rotting greens in your fridge.
Take a look at some of these ideas for getting you on the road to growing your own smoothie garden.
Before You Get Started
Protein Berry Smoothie
- Grow what you like and what you know you will use. There is no use in planting a plot of kale if you hate the stuff. Likewise, if you have space, grow a nice variety so that you aren’t sipping solely spinach smoothies for the rest of the summer.
- Look into your climate and growing zone. Knowing which plants like to grow when and where will help in the success of your smoothie garden.
- Think about the space you have to work with and be realistic. If you only have a window box, you and unlikely to be able to grow a raspberry bush. However, go wild on the greens and herbs.
- If you have the space for a few containers on a patio, look into the size of the mature plant you wish to grow and check that it is suitable for container gardening.
Some Smoothie Favourites
Hydrating Super Green Smoothie
Kale– with its super nutritional profile, kale makes it into many a smoothie. Fortunately, it is very simple to grow and is cold hardy. You can plant kale in very early spring and late summer. Cold weather and frost actually bring out a sweetness in the leaves. It grows well in garden beds and in containers. It prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade which is good news for those planning on a porch container garden.
Leafy Herbs– parsley, mint, lemon balm, tarragon, and basil are all great additions to smoothies. They have powerful flavors and they add all kinds of nutrients. The great thing about herbs is that they are very easy to grow and can work whether you have a huge backyard or just a sunny windowsill. If happy, they will grow in abundance and can be used fresh from the garden or dried and used in powder form during the colder months.
Strawberries– Strawberries are a plant that, if given the chance will multiply and take over your garden. Not a bad problem to have! However, strawberries can also be grown in pots and hanging baskets. They prefer full sun and slightly acidic soil. There are different types of strawberry plants with some that are June bearing, and others that produce continuously or twice during the season.
Blackberries and Raspberries– To grow these brambly monsters, you are more likely going to need space for them to spread. However, if you really want to give patio container gardening a go, try opting for thornless varieties of raspberry and blackberry. You will need to find a sizeable container, keep an eye on reaching branches and make sure you have space to tie the branches up. These berries produce once a year during the summer, but surplus berries can be frozen and used throughout the year.
Ginger and Turmeric– These two staple spices grow very well in pots. Unless you live in a hot climate, this will be your only shot, as they are tropical plants that do not tolerate the cold. The plants can be kept outside in the warmer months and then brought inside as the cold descends. You have to be patient, though. They will not be mature enough to harvest for several months.
Other plants to consider growing would be arugula, spinach, avocados (if you live in a very specific climate), bananas (same as avocados), blueberries, and of course fruit trees if you have space. The key is not to be put off if you have limited space. Many of your favorite smoothie ingredients can grow quite happily in pots on a porch or windowsill.
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