Healthy foods can be costly and at times not easy to get, especially when you are looking for freshness and quality. That is one of the biggest issues people have when trying to eat right and follow any diet. It is especially true for those who are following the keto diet. Creating the perfect Keto garden can eliminate these issues and will help keep delicious fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs on hand at any time.
What to Consider When Growing a Keto Garden?
When growing your Keto garden keep in mind you are shooting for low carb fruits vegetables and herbs. You want to choose high-quality seeds that are recommended for your specific location and be sure that you plan out the proper amount of space needed to give your plants plenty of room. Your plants will need plenty of sunlight to grow, so make sure they are out in the open and not to close to buildings or trees that will provide too much shade
Animals and insects can also be a large issue while creating your garden. Keep yourself protected from pests with gardening fences and the proper bug repellents to keep them from destroying anything that you are trying to grow.
Watering is one of the most important parts of a healthy crop, too much or too little will damage your crops or stunt the growth. Knowing how much you need to water is very important. You also want to avoid sunlight when watering your plants. If there are water droplets on the leaves in the heat it can burn your plant. Try and keep watering during the early morning hours or after the sunsets.
What to Plant for a Keto Garden?
When starting a keto-based garden do your homework on the keto diet itself. This diet is exceptionally low carb so you will want to have lots of vegetables, fruits, and herbs. You should shoot for no starch, no beans, and low natural sugars.
Keto Garden Growing Guide
What Vegetables Should You Grow in Your Keto Garden?
When planting vegetables in your keto garden think Green and leafy! The list below is based per cup:
- Watercress – 0.4 grams of carbs
- Arugula- 0.7 grams of carbs
- Kale – 0.9 grams of carbs
- Green leaf lettuce- 1 gram of carbs
- Spinach: 1 gram of carbs
- Broccoli Rabe: 1.1 gram of carbs
- Swiss Chard: 1.3 grams of carbs
- Cucumbers: 1.8 grams of carbs
- Celery: 3 grams of carbs
- Red Bell Pepper: 9 grams of carbs
- Green Pepper: 4.3 grams of carbs
- Jalapeno: 3 grams of carb
- Zucchini: 3.8 grams of carbs
- Cabbage: 5.1 gram of carbs
- Asparagus: 5.2 grams of carbs
- Broccoli: 6 grams of carbs
- Green Beans: 6.9 grams of carbs
- Onions: 11 grams of carbs
What Fruits Can You Grow in Your Keto Garden?
Fruits are always a great go-to for the perfect sweet low carb treat. The list below is per cup:
- Blackberries: 13.8 grams of carbs
- Raspberries: 14.7 grams of carbs
- Strawberries: 11.6 grams of carbs
- Watermelon: 11.6 grams of carbs
- Cantaloupe: 14.4 grams of carbs
- Avocado: 12.8 grams of carbs
What Herbs Can You Plant in Your Keto Garden?
- Thyme
- Mint
- Basil
- Ginger
- Cilantro
- Rosemary
What You Should Avoid Planting in Your Keto Garden!
Potatoes should never be considered in a keto-friendly garden. White Potatoes contain a whopping 28 grams of carbs each and its thought to be a healthy alternative the sweet potato contains 27. You also want to steer clear of starchy vegetables such as corn, carrots, and peas. High starch content equals a high amount of carbs.
Other foods to avoid planting in your garden are squash, most beans, artichokes, and yams.
FAQ About Keto Gardening
Can My Keto Garden Be Inside?
Want a garden all year round but the weather isn’t always ideal? You can grow your own garden in the comfort of your own home with the right amount of space and the proper lighting. For low-medium light plants, a large widow sill should provide enough sun for good growth. For those higher light plants such as tomatoes and basil, you will need to purchase a UV grow LED lamp.
You can purchase herb gardens online or you can show your creative and crafty side by creating your own. Herbs gardens are a great look in the kitchen and can be made from mason jars, baby food jars, wooden boxes, etc. You can decorate them to match your kitchen décor and keep the room smelling great even when nothing is in the oven.
What Are the Best Keto Vegetables?
When properly following a keto diet, you want to stay away from vegetables high in starch, most beans, and potatoes. What you want to keep on hand is your leafy greens, think salad. Cauliflower is a great vegetable to have because it is very versatile and has a very mild flavor. You can find recipes for a cauliflower crust, great for pizzas, or cauliflower mashed “potatoes”.
Spinach and Kale are also a must-have when eating keto because they can be used in many dishes and contain a lot of nutrients and vitamins. Try cutting them up and throwing them into a keto egg omelet or add some chicken, avocado, and keto raspberry vinaigrette into a bowl with these veggies for an amazing tasting salad that will keep you satisfied for hours.
What Are the Best Keto Fruits to Eat?
Most barriers can be used in a keto diet. They are great for curbing a sweet tooth and can be added to your favorite dishes. You can drizzle some dark chocolate over them and freeze them for a wonderful summer snack.
Watermelon and cantaloupe can also be great for a quick addition to dinner night or thrown into a plastic container for a quick healthy on the go lunch.
Although Apples and bananas are usually the first choices for a healthy snack, you want to try and avoid these fruits along with grapes and cherries while on keto as they are extremely high in natural sugars. Natural sugars are much better for you than added sugars but should still not be consumed while on a low carb diet. When looking for a sugary taste keto allows artificial sugars such as stevia and Splenda.
Remember your fruits can also be added to water or smoothies to make a cool refreshing drink on a hot day. Lemons and limes are great fruit options while on the keto diet and the perfect addition to a cold bottle of water.
Best Keto-Friendly Herbs to Eat?
Low carb herb options for your keto garden include mint, thyme, basil, coriander, ginger, tarragon, cinnamon. These are the spices you want in your kitchen at any given time. You can also use paprika, cumin, oregano, and cayenne but because they have a higher carb content you will want to use them less frequently. There are many keto recipes you find to make up amazing salad dressing, taco seasoning, dry rub, and more with your keto-friendly herbs and spices.
Final Thoughts
You can create a keto diet garden just about anywhere in the world if your willing to put in the research and the work to keep it growing. I suggest the farmer’s almanac as a great tool to help you decide what seeds will thrive in your location and for great tips on how to keep it growing strong. With your own garden, you can decide the crops that grow based on your personal preference and taste. You will have fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs on hand all season and best of all you know where your produce came from and that it is safe and healthy for you and your guest to eat.
Gardening has been known to be a relaxing hobby for many people, so relax, create, and grow.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.