10 Plants Kids Can Grow in Their Garden Bed

Kids love to garden! Aside from helping you get the work completed, gardening is an educational activity  that teaches kids about plant cycles and the earth. Growing vegetables helps your child be open to trying new foods. Picking plants kids can grow make the activity enjoyable for all.

While children can grow all plants, some are easier for them start to finish. You don’t want your child to feel frustrated in their first attempts at gardening.

What Makes a Plant Kid Friendly?

• Easy to Plant: You want your child involved start to finish. Tiny seeds aren’t good for small fingers. Plants with large seeds are perfect for kids.
• Appeals to theSenses: Plants that smell good or have bright colors are appealing to kids.
• Fruits: If your child can pull off and eat fresh fruits, chances are your child will enjoy growing it. Fresh fruit is delicious, and kids know it!

10 Plants Kids Can Grow

1. Peas 

   Peas are one of the easiest vegetables to grow. Kids can plant them, watch them sprout and tend to them throughout the growing season. Pea plants are easy to harvest, especially if you grow the pole variety. Kids as young as two years old can help plant pea seeds. Toddlers love to snack on peas fresh from the garden.

2.  Lettuce 

   Lettuce sprouts fast, which is encouraging for young kids. It is easy to teach them how to create rows and sprinkle in seeds. While the adult might want to do the thinning process, kids can find enjoyment in clipping lettuce before dinner throughout the spring and summer.

   

3. Sunflowers 

   Sunflowers are large and beautiful. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. Some can reach as tall as 12-feet! Kids love to grow these, especially a large row. Plus, the delicious seeds can be enjoyed as the plant dries. Did you know that sunflower seeds have almost as much protein as meat? Plus, sunflower seeds are an easy snack.

4.  Marigolds 

   Flowers can be tricky for kids, but everyone wants some color in their garden. Marigolds come in a variety of colors and tend to be hard to kill. Kids can forget to water them a few times, and chances are the marigolds will survive fine.

5. Mint 

   Be careful growing mint because the plant likes to take over all the surrounding areas. If you don’t want the plant to take over all of your garden bed, keep a close eye or put it in a container. There are several varieties of mint available, such as peppermint, lemon, pineapple, and chocolate. All have different scents! Your child can learn how to make tea from mint as well.

6. Radishes 

   Kids tend to be impatient, so planting radishes give your children some pleasure. Many varieties of radishes are ready to harvest in less than a month. Easter Egg radishes produce several colors, such as red, purple and white radishes. While you might not get your child to eat a radish, it will encourage them to love gardening.

   

   Photo by Damien Creatz on Unsplash

7. Green Beans 

   Another great plant for kids to grow is green beans. The seeds are easy to plant and tend. Beans are easy to harvest. Best of all, most varieties mature quickly, so your child shouldn’t lose interest. The plant will rapidly grow and look different all the time. After harvest time, you can teach your child how to snap the end of green beans and learn how to prepare them for dinner!

8. Strawberries 

   Strawberries are perfect for kids. Nothing screams summer like fresh strawberry juice dripping down a child’s hands. Strawberries can grow well in containers. They will spread out rapidly after each season, so be mindful of the sprouts.

9. Potatoes 

   Growing potatoes does take some patience because they are a root crop. Your child can’t see the potato maturing underground. They will see the plant growing above ground, and kids can help to add dirt to the mound continually. The best part of growing potatoes for kids is harvest time. They can turn over a shovel and find buried potatoes. It is like a grand scavenger hunt!

10. Aloe Vera 

    Aloe plants are hard to kill, which makes them a great choice for kids. If your child gets a burn or a sunburn, you can teach them how to take the plant and harvest the sap to apply to their burn. Kids will love the soothing feel and that their plant makes them feel better!

Gardening with children should feel like a joy rather than a burden. Your child is learning every moment. It might be something simple like how to plant a seed, or to learn how valuable water is to plant life. Parents want to introduce their child to every educational opportunity possible.

Remember to pick plants kids can grow without frustration. You should consider giving your child his garden bed where he can plant what he wants. Let your child decorate and invite butterflies and birds to the area. Your child’s interest in gardening will peak and blossom!

About the Author

Hi! My name is Veronica Mitchell. I am a mother to two adorable little girls and a handsome little boy. I spend my days caring from my children, packing lunches, reading aloud, kissing boo-boos, and working as the Chief Editor of MyParentingJourney. 

Veronica

If you want to read more about gardening with the children and sustainable living, check out this article: Teaching the children about sustainable living: start in the garden