10 Vegetables for Kids to Grow in Containers

Growing vegetables in containers with kids is a great way to connect them to nature and help them learn where food comes from.

Most of the container vegetables on this list have seeds that are easy to handle, and they’re almost all quick growing crops too,  so children hopefully won’t lose interest!

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Vegetables for children to grow in containers

Whether you’re growing veg on a balcony garden or porch, these vegetables can be easily grown by children in containers. From quick-growing radishes to easy-to-handle seeds like beans and peas.

1. Radishes

Quick-growing, colorful, and tasty, these mini pink vegetables are a great vegetable for kids to grow in containers.

Radish seeds are large and round so small hands can easily hold and push them into the soil.

• Very quick growing
• Great for small containers and pots
• Big seeds that are easy to plant

2. Bush Beans 

Bean plants are usually very quick to germinate which can help to keep children more interested. They also have larger seeds making it easier for children to handle them. You can also bury them quite deep which works well if children push them into the soil a little too hard!

However, compared to tall growing pole beans, bush bean plants are shorter making it easier for children to actually pick them themselves.

There are lots of brightly colored and unusual bush bean varieties to choose from too. From the pink and cream mottling on a Barlotti bean to the bright yellow Dior bush bean.

• Easy to harvest for younger children
• Lots of colorful pod varieties to choose from
• Big seeds that are easy to plant

3. Beets

Like radishes, beets are another great quick growing vegetable that children can easily grow in containers. The seeds are also easy for children to hold in their hands.

Their bright red and pink colors provide a bit more interest. Plus, children will enjoy pulling them out of the soil!

• Colorful vegetable that can be used in vegetable fabric-dying experiments too
• Big seeds that are easy to plant

4. Potatoes 

Potatoes are a great vegetable for kids to grow in containers.  Seed potatoes are easy for children to plant as they’re over an inch in size.

Plus, children always enjoy harvesting potatoes as it’s like finding buried treasure! Emptying the container afterward and rummaging through the soil to find the potatoes is very rewarding. This grow bag from Amazon has a fitted window that can make harvesting easier!

You can even try planting small store-bought potatoes too although varieties from plant nurseries are usually recommended. Just make sure you chit your potatoes before planting!

• Hardy and easy to care for
• Fun to harvest!

5. Peanuts

Ever considered growing your own peanuts?! Peanut plants are perfectly suited to container growing, and it’s a great way to show kids where peanut butter comes from!

Unearthing the clusters of peanuts is just as fun as rooting around in the soil to find potatoes!

• An unusual plant that kids will find fascinating to grow
• Fun to harvest!

6. Zucchinis 

Zucchini plants have fingernail-sized seeds which are easy for small hands to hold and push into the soil.

They benefit from plenty of watering which is useful for younger children who enjoy watering plants.

• Good continual crop of zucchinis
• Big seeds that are easy to plant

7. Dwarf Peas 

Dwarf pea varieties are ideal for container growing. The seeds are big and easy to handle and they’re fun to harvest too! Plus, nothing really beats the sweet taste of fresh peas from the garden, it’ll hopefully keep kids interested.

There are three different types of peas you can grow, including shelling peas, snap peas, and snow peas.

If you have a bit more space, there are some pea varieties with pretty pods that can help to make it more exciting for little ones, including the ‘Sugar Magnolia’ pea which has vivid purple pods.

• Easy to harvest and pick
• Big seeds that are easy to plant

8. Dwarf and Mini Tomatoes 

Dwarf tomato plants and micro tomatoes are a great choice for kids to grow in containers. Their smaller size makes them easier to manage (minimal to zero support needed). Plus, they’re easier for children to pick.

• Good continual crop that children enjoy picking
• Versatile ingredient. Kids will feel proud adding them to meals

9. Spinach

Quick-growing and reliable, spinach is a great vegetable for kids to grow in containers. They can usually start picking baby leaves in as little as 35 days.

Like radishes, spinach seeds are quite big and easy for children to sprinkle over a container of compost. They’re also a shade tolerant vegetable, which is ideal if your garden doesn’t receive much sunlight.

As such a healthy garden vegetable, it’s a great crop for children to become familiar with too. They can add the baby leaves into lots of dishes, from chili and stir fry to soups and curries.

• Quick growing vegetable
• Very healthy ingredient. Kids will feel proud adding them to meals

10. Mini Pumpkins and Squash

Mini pumpkin varieties like ‘Baby Bear’ or ‘Jack Be Little’ are great little vegetables for children to grow in containers. You can train pumpkins to grow vertically, to save some space, which is ideal for container-growing in small spaces.

Like the other veg on this list, mini pumpkins have good-sized seeds that kids can easily plant in a container.

Their smaller fruits tend to develop and ripen more quickly. And because of their smaller size, they should be easier for kids to pick!

The ‘Orange Smoothie’ pumpkin is a great Halloween pumpkin with smooth skin that children can easily paint.

• Kids feel proud using their own homegrown pumpkin for Halloween!
• Big seeds that are easy to plant