Growing with Kids
Easy Plants for Little Gardeners
There’s something special about watching children discover the rhythm of the garden – planting, watering, waiting, and finally picking something they’ve grown themselves. With the right plants, it doesn’t take long before curiosity turns into real enthusiasm.
Here are some easy, rewarding choices to grow together.
Cherry Tomatoes
Sweet, colourful and wonderfully generous, cherry tomatoes are a joy to grow with children. Plant them in a sunny spot in a large pot or even a hanging basket and keep the soil consistently watered. They’ll need a little support as they grow, so canes or a simple frame work well. The real magic comes when the fruits start to ripen – checking them each day becomes a ritual in itself. It’s too late to grow tomatoes from seed in May, but we’ve got a wide variety of young tomato plants to get started.
Strawberries
Sweet, juicy and often a firm favourite with children, strawberries are one of the most rewarding crops to grow together. They thrive in pots, troughs or hanging baskets, which keeps the fruit clean and easy to reach. A sunny position and regular watering are key, and a layer of straw beneath the fruits helps protect them as they ripen. A valuable lesson in patience – as the first berry straight from the plant is hard to beat!
Sunflowers
Few plants capture a child’s imagination quite like a sunflower! Sow the large seeds directly into the soil or into small pots, and keep them well watered as they establish. They grow quickly, often shooting up week by week, which makes them perfect for keeping interest alive. Choose taller varieties for a bit of drama, or dwarf types for containers. Watching them turn towards the sun is a simple, lovely lesson in nature.
Chives
Chives are wonderfully forgiving and ideal for smaller hands. Plant them in a pot or border in a sunny or lightly shaded spot, and water occasionally. They’ll regrow quickly after cutting, so children can snip a few stems for salads or sprinkling over potatoes. In summer, their soft purple flowers are a quiet bonus, attracting pollinators and adding to your garden’s charm.
Radishes
For quick results, radishes are hard to beat. Sow little and often in shallow soil or containers, and keep them well watered to ensure a crisp, mild flavour. Within a few weeks, they’ll be ready to pull – an especially satisfying moment for children. Their speed makes them perfect for building confidence early on. The variety ‘Patricia’ is a mild french radish variety suitable for younger palates.
Top Tips For Success
A few simple approaches can make gardening with children feel easy and enjoyable:
Start with larger seeds
Sunflowers (and beans, if you’d like to expand) are perfect for small fingers and build confidence right from the start.
Look for quick wins
Fast-growing crops like radishes help keep interest high and bring early success.
Keep things manageable
Containers and pots are a simple way to garden- easy to reach, easy to care for, and ideal for patios or smaller spaces.
At its heart, gardening with children is about sharing time outdoors – muddy hands, small discoveries, and the quiet satisfaction of growing something together.
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