Are you looking to add a burst of color to your garden while also enhancing its nutritional value? Purple vegetables are a fantastic way to achieve both goals. These vibrant veggies are not only visually stunning but also packed with health benefits, offering a rich array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
In this article, we will explore ten beautiful purple vegetables that can transform your garden into a colorful and nutritious haven. From the deep, glossy hues of eggplants to the rich tones of purple beans and cabbages, these vegetables will not only make your garden more visually appealing but also add a variety of flavors and textures to your meals. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, incorporating these purple gems into your garden will bring a touch of elegance and a bounty of health benefits.
Let’s dive in and discover the vibrant world of purple vegetables that can make your garden as delightful to the eyes as they are to your taste buds!
1. Redbor Kale
Redbor Kale is a beautiful purple vegetable you can grow in your garden to enhance your landscaping. Not only does it have an eye-catching shape, but this veggie also has a gentle, cabbage-like flavor. It can be eaten raw or cooked and provides a great source of iron, calcium, potassium, carbohydrates, and fiber.
2. Cherokee Purple Tomato
Cherokee Purple is a great vegetable for its unmatched sweet, rich taste. The tomato also has a beautiful dusky pink with a deep, rich-red interior. You can use it on sandwiches or in salads, and it offers Vitamins C, K, and A.
3. Red Cabbage
Red cabbages are a wonderful addition to any garden. They can be eaten raw, in salads, or as German Blaukraut. With their deep purple color, red cabbages not only look beautiful but are also rich in vitamin K, zinc, and magnesium, making them a healthy choice.
4. Radicchio
Also known as Red Chicory, radicchio adds a splash of color to your table and garden with its purple and white leaves. It can be eaten raw, cooked, or grilled, and works well in pasta, soup, and salads. This bitter taste helps with digestion and reduces stress.
5. Royal Snow Peas
Royal snow peas have a dark purple color and can be eaten raw, offering a slightly bitter but enjoyable taste. They are rich in Vitamin C and help boost immunity. Their flavor, though mildly bitter, is pleasant and makes a great addition to salads, coleslaw, or as an edible garnish. They are best used raw but can also be lightly steamed or sautéed.
6. Purple Passion Spinach
Purple Passion Orach, also known as Mountain Spinach or French Spinach, adds vibrant color to your garden. It has three times more Vitamin A than regular spinach. This plant looks stunning in the garden and on your salad plate! You can use it instead of traditional spinach or chard, and it is often prepared by sautéing or steaming.
7. Purple Bell Peppers
Watching the color change of this crispy vegetable is a delight. It starts green, turns white, and then develops purple stripes that cover the whole vegetable. It produces a good yield of blocky, deep-purple peppers. Their mild, sweet flavor and unique color make them a great addition to salads or vegan dishes.
8. Purple Kohlrabi
Purple kohlrabi is part of the cabbage family. It is juicy and crunchy with a mild, peppery, and sweet flavor similar to cabbage. Its beautiful, vibrant color makes it a perfect garnish and a great addition to sandwiches, coleslaw, and salads. The dark purple skin contrasts sharply with the ivory white flesh, which is excellent in stir-fried or steamed dishes. Purple kohlrabi is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, folate (B9), thiamin (B1), potassium, phosphorus, and calcium.
9. Eggplant
Eggplant thrives with purple flowers and beautiful fruit, adding charm to any garden. It can be used in many tasty recipes and can be steamed. This dark, glossy purple vegetable is rich in fiber and various nutrients. When cooked, it becomes very tender and soaks up surrounding flavors. This low-calorie vegetable is a key part of the Mediterranean diet.
10. Purple Beans
Purple beans bring a fresh crunch and sweet taste to your daily meals and a vibrant purple color to your garden. They contain dietary fiber and vitamins A, C, thiamine, and pyridoxine which are good for your health.
Growing purple pod beans is easy- to- grow and also much like growing other types of bush beans. Let’s start by choosing a garden bed that is free of weeds, well-prepared, and gets plenty of sunlight.
