Health trends may come and go, but the green smoothie is here to stay. With many of us embracing busy lifestyles, being able to drink our greens is an option that is both efficient and delicious. Green smoothies are characterized by their colour, which as we know is derived from adding fibrous green plants to a blended beverage. For gardeners, the ability to grow some of these greens helps take the pressure of the grocery store budget and deliver home grown garden to table smoothies.

So what plants are essential to the garden to blender green smoothie and which ones do we recommend you grow and why. Let’s take a look at some of our top pics and why these garden goodies should be on your must grow list this year.

Kale

Kale is our number one choice for your green smoothie: it grows easily, during cooler and warmer temps and can be used in smoothies, salads, stir frys and beyond. Kale is fibrous and more bitter than some of the other greens, so it is recommended that you have a blender with a good amount of power to make sure that you are pulverizing your kale to its fullest.

Best variety to grow for smoothies: Vates Blue Curled Scotch Kale

Best plants to grow for pairing with kale: mint and spinach

What else pairs well with kale?: Frozen pineapple chunks and a good sized piece of fresh ginger

How to prep your kale: wash your kale thoroughly and trim the central stem away unless you have a very powerful blender like a Vitamix or a BlendTec.

Spinach

The absolute go to of so many green smoothie recipes, spinach is a must grow for the smoothie garden. From a nutrition point of view, it is a good source of beta carotene, which will help you glow from the inside out and is also a great source of folic acid. Spinach grows best in the cooler season and has a mellow flavour in your smoothie, making it a great choice if you’re new to a daily dose of green.

Best variety to grow for smoothies: Equinox or Bloomsdale

Best plants to grow for pairing with spinach: strawberries and cucumber

What else pairs well with spinach?: cilantro, lime and frozen mango

How to prep your spinach: wash well and spin dry in a salad spinner

Cucumbers

Part of the joy of a great green smoothie is knowing that you are hydrating your body. Most of us don’t drink enough water during the day and the water content of many fruits and vegetables can help satiate us. Cucumbers are a great source of hydration and are also rich in vitamins C and B1.

Best variety for grow for smoothies: Picolino

Best plants to grow for pairing with cucumbers: Celery and Mint

What else pairs well with cucumbers: almost anything, but try fennel or jalapeno for something more adventurous

How to prep your cucumbers: just wash and go, don’t bother to peel

Beets and Carrots

Not technically green but wait! Beets and carrots are actually great two-for-one plants in the garden. With both edible roots and edible green tops, these veggies can and should be used to their utmost potential. Both have incredible health benefits and while we don’t advise you put your carrot tops in your smoothie (carrot tops can be used to make pesto), you can use your beet greens in the same way that you would use chard.

Best varieties to grow for smoothies: Boro (beets) and Mokum (carrots)

Best plants for pairing: beets pair well with berries and carrots pair well with turmeric

What else pairs well with beets and carrots: apples, kale and ginger

How to prep your root veg: scrub well, no need to peel

Mint

If you’re looking to balance out the flavor of your green smoothie, add a hint of mint! Mint is wonderful for your digestion and can help you feel calm and serene. With so many varieties of mint that you could possibly grow, try sticking to the classics or go wild and try a few more exotic flavor profiles like mojito mint or chocolate mint.

Best varieties to grow for smoothies: spearmint or peppermint

Best plants for pairing with mint: watermelon and spinach

What else pairs well with mint?: strawberry, avocado and banana

How to prep your mint: wash and dry leaves with a tea towel

Strawberries in the field being harvested.

Honorable mentions for your smoothie garden

Now that we’ve given you some of our must grow green garden staples, let’s look at some honorable mentions you might consider adding to your garden:

Collard greens
Strawberries and raspberries
Chard
Ginger and turmeric

We hope that you endeavor to increase your greens by both growing them and adding them to a daily smoothie. The journey to embrace the harvest from the garden is one that is lifelong and we look forward to seeing your garden and smoothie pics this season!

TOP Picks for Planting a Smoothie Garden