Children of all ages can assist in the family garden. Kids who grow their own food are more likely to want to eat it. Watching a seed transform from a sprout to a fully grown plant is truly magical. Below is a list of fast-growing seeds that are easy for children to plant and care for.
Radishes
Radishes are some of the earliest seeds you can plant since they are a cool-weather crop. Most radish varieties are fast-growing, but Cherry Belle is ready in about three weeks after planting! Slugs love radish seedlings, so make sure you have a way to control them if slugs are an issue in your area.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are so fun to grow and then turn into quick pickles! Muncher is a variety known to produce lots of seedless cucumbers, grow quickly, and is good for eating fresh and pickling! They have a very refreshing and crisp flavor!
Pumpkins
Pumpkins are a must in a kid-friendly garden. Kids love decorating or carving pumpkins they grew from seed! Teeny, tiny Jack-Be-Little is reliable and very easy to grow. Giant pumpkin varieties like Big Max are also a hit with kids.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are a classic kid-friendly seed because they are very familiar and grow very quickly. It’s especially fun to plant sunflowers that get several feet tall. Autumn Beauty gets 6-7 feet tall, perfect for a sunflower maze or fort. This variety also has more visual interest because it has shades of red and orange blending into the yellow.
Beans
I remember growing green beans in plastic cups in first grade. It was so fun, and then I got to eat my beans! Royal Purple Pod is a fast-growing (ready in 55-60 days) bean that isn’t your typical “green” bean—it is, like the name suggests, purple! Royal Purple Pod plants stay compact and bushy, so there’s no need to trellis.
Chamomile
Chamomile is an easy herb to grow. It often re-seeds itself the following year. My children love making chamomile tea, so we grow it yearly.
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