Growing Vegetables with Your Children
Simple wins for Parents who want to garden with your children.
If you’re new to gardening, I want to start by saying this: you do not need a greenhouse, a huge backyard, or a degree in horticulture to grow your own food. You don’t even need to be particularly “green-thumbed” (I’m certainly not). What you do need is a bit of patience, a patch of sunlight, and the willingness to try.
Starting a vegetable patch was one of the most unexpectedly rewarding things I’ve done with my children. It gave us something to do together outside that didn’t cost a fortune, pulled them away from screens, and even helped them learn a little responsibility. And the best part? We got to eat the results.
So, if you’re ready to give it a go, here are 5 easy-to-grow vegetables that are ideal for beginners, even if your gardening experience so far begins and ends with the odd houseplant.
1. Cherry Tomatoes
Why they’re great: They’re sweet, fast-growing, and incredibly satisfying to pick fresh from the vine.
How to grow:
- Start from small plants (called plugs) from your local garden center — easier than starting from seed.
- Use a pot, grow bag, or planter with good drainage and place it in a sunny spot (they love warmth).
- Water regularly but don’t drown them — little and often is best.
- Support the plant as it grows with a bamboo cane or tomato cage.
- Harvest when the fruit turns deep red and comes off with a gentle tug.
Kid-friendly bonus: Kids love watering them and watching the fruit appear — and because cherry tomatoes are small and sweet, they’re more likely to actually eat them.
2. Cucumbers
Why they’re great: Surprisingly easy to grow, and they thrive in containers with support.
How to grow:
- Choose a bush or mini variety for containers or small gardens.
- Plant in a large pot with rich compost and place in full sun.
- Keep the soil moist — cucumbers are thirsty plants!
- Use canes or a trellis to help the vines climb.
- Pick when they reach the desired size (often 6–8 inches for mini cucumbers).
Tip: Cucumbers grow quickly once they start, so keep an eye out, one missed harvest can turn into a giant!
3. Salad Onions
Why they’re great: Quick to grow, take up hardly any space, and add a fresh crunch to salads.
How to grow:
- Sow seeds directly into soil or a deep pot from March to July.
- Scatter seeds in a line, then cover lightly with soil and water.
- Keep moist and weed-free.
- Harvest after 8–12 weeks, when they look like, well, salad onions!
Low effort, high reward — great for narrow containers or even a window box.
4. Radishes
Why they’re great: Possibly the easiest veg you’ll ever grow — fast, space-saving, and colorful.
How to grow:
- Sow directly into soil or containers in rows.
- Thin seedlings to about 2cm apart once they sprout.
- Keep moist but not waterlogged.
- Ready to harvest in 4–6 weeks!
Kid-friendly bonus: These grow fast, which keeps little gardeners interested. Pulling up radishes is like unearthing buried treasure.
5. Lettuce
Why they’re great: Versatile, fast-growing, and perfect for cut-and-come-again salads.
How to grow:
- Sow seeds in pots, grow bags, or shallow beds.
- Water gently and regularly — they prefer cooler weather (spring and autumn are best).
- As it grows, harvest the outer leaves and leave the rest — the plant keeps growing!
Tip: Try different varieties like rocket, butterhead, or mixed leaf to keep things interesting.
Final Thoughts: Start Small, Grow Big
You don’t need to go full “allotment dad” to enjoy gardening. Just start with one or two of these easy options. Let the kids pick what they want to grow. Make a Sunday morning of watering, or an after-school job out of picking what’s ready. It’s fun, grounding, and genuinely good for your mental health (and theirs).
And if it all goes wrong? That’s okay too. Seeds are cheap. The memories—and the muddy knees—are worth far more.
Let’s grow something, together.