For various ethical, health and environmental reasons, vegans avoid eating animal food. This leaves vegetables and fruits as their main source of food. If you’re a vegan and looking to grow some vegetables at home, then that’s a brilliant idea.
But the big question is the right type of vegetables to grow. What are some of the healthiest vegetables for vegans? You need to plant only vegetables with the highest nutritional values. That’s the only way to get value for money and enjoy your gardening.
As a vegan, you’re going to consume more vegetables. So it makes sense growing some at home.
In this post, I’ll share some of the healthiest vegetables to grow at home.
Broccoli – One of the Healthiest
You don’t want to miss broccoli from the list. This is one of the healthiest vegetables and one every vegan should grow at home.
Vegans don’t consume a lot of milk products and need a vegetable with a good amount of calcium. Broccoli stands out as a calcium-rich food and one to consider right away.
Broccoli is a cool-weather vegetable that grows best in fall and spring. You can also grow it indoors and transfer it outdoors. Pots should be 12 to 16 inches for bountiful harvests.
Potatoes
Another excellent vegetable to consider growing is potatoes. Potatoes, especially sweet potatoes, are packed with vitamin A. They are also rich in beta-carotene making them excellent for fighting free-radicals in the body.
Potatoes rank top on the list of best vegetables to grow for a vegan with several uses. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals.
Potatoes are also easy to grow taking 80-100 days to fully mature.
Spinach
Spinach also ranks among the 10 healthiest foods to grow in your garden as a vegan. It’s quite nutritious and can give you up to 56% of your daily vitamin A needs.
Spinach stands out for various reasons. First, it’s quite easy to grow and can be ready to use in a couple of weeks. You can include spinach in every dish and smoothie.
Legumes
How else are you going to get enough proteins in your body as a vegan without legumes? Legumes are iron and protein rich vegetables and a perfect replacement for animal products.
The legume family comprises beans, lentils and peas which provide you with up to 20-30 grams of protein per cup. In addition, legumes are a great source of fibers, potassium, iron, zinc, antioxidants, etc.
What’s more, legumes are easy to grow and maintain in a small space. You can grow them in containers and give them something to climb.
Tomatoes
It goes without saying. Tomatoes are a favorite for every gardener. Whether a vegan or not, you’ll likely use a tomato daily in your dishes. According to Backyard Gardeners Network, tomatoes can be grown in pots or in the ground, they are heat-loving and can perform well in areas with good exposure to the sun.
However, you need to pay attention to the type of tomatoes to grow. We have determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. Determinate tomatoes ripen fast and are best to plant when all the frost is gone.
Carrots
Carrots are tasty and come loaded with vitamin A and beta-carotene.They are a great choice vegetable for vegans. This is a nutrient rich vegetable to easily carry and snack wherever you go.
Their portability makes them a great choice for vegans on the go. Carrots are also easy to cook and can be combined with most dishes.
What’s more, growing carrots is quite simple. All you need is loose soil, cool weather and a lot of water.
Garlic
You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to grow garlic at home.Garic is a great choice vegetable to grow and use in almost every dish. There is the softneck with many cloves and the hardneck with curly garlic.
In the early spring, garlic is usually among the first vegetables to pop. It’s an essential vegetable with Vitamin B6 and C. Garlic is also known for its great antibacterial and antifungal properties.
It also comprises essential trace minerals, prebiotics and antioxidants.
Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are among the healthiest vegan vegetables to consider growing. It is easy to grow and contains kaempferol which helps fight free radicals. It also contains antioxidants which help fight infections.
Kale
Kale is a decent choice vegetable for vegans and non-vegans. It produces a wide range of nutrients good for overall heart health.
Additionally, kale can be crushed and used in most smoothies. The juice from kale has been shown to help fight high blood sugar levels.
Peppers
Yes, even vegans love spicy foods. Nothing makes food more spicy than adding some chill. Make sure you grow some peppers in your garden and use them when you want to spice your food.
Peppers come loaded with huge amounts of vitamin C. Hot peppers also help persons with stomach ulcers.