It turns out that kids are more likely to eat fruits and veggies if they helped grow them. So perhaps the reason kids won’t eat the green things on their plate is that they don’t know where they came from. That might be wishful thinking, but what we do know is that gardening with kids is a great way to teach them about their food, the environment, and responsibility. If that sounds appealing to you and your family, here are a few of the best fruits and veggies to get their green thumb going young. 

Cherry Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are one of the best fruits and veggies to grow with kids. They can be eaten as a sweet snack right off the vine and can persuade even the pickiest of eaters that tomatoes are tasty. They take less than two months to grow and there’s something about the word “cherry” in the name that sweetens the concept even more for kids. 

Carrots

Carrots are one of the easiest garden vegetables to grow. They take about 2 to 3 months to grow and are the “sugar sticks” of the vegetable world. Planting a colorful variety or on with a fun shape will make harvesting more exciting for kids (and honestly adults too).

Snap Peas

Sugar snap peas have a super short growing season which is great for kids who, in turn, have a super short attention span. Their sweetness makes them picky-eater-friendly, and their crispness makes them a delicious snack right off the vine. Sugar snap peas are also a nitrogen-fixing plant, making them great for your garden overall. 

Pumpkins

Plant pumpkins in time to harvest for Halloween, and your kids can pick a pumpkin to carve right from your backyard. To grow jumbos, you’ll need a bit of space and 3 to 4 months of patience, but smaller varieties can be grown in beds or more compact gardens. 

Strawberries

If you want to get kids really excited about gardening, pick something you already know they love, like strawberries. If you’re tight on space, strawberries can actually be grown in a pot. Just don’t expect to harvest summer’s worth of berry bounty from something that would fit on a windowsill. 

Broccoli

This one is for the kids who sneak their broccoli to the dog (who also won’t eat broccoli). If you’ve tried everything, like hiding it in tasty Stem to Floret Broccoli Nuggets, and they still won’t eat their veggies– growing them might just do the trick. Let them get to know their least favorite food with this veggie that’s easy to grow and needs very little space.