Kids of all ages can learn useful skills while having fun gardening and growing plants from seeds. Picking seeds that are simple to grow is a good way to make sure that even first-time student gardeners have success. Students can enjoy the joy and rewards of taking plants from seed to harvest if they have the right seeds and some help.
Here are 10 of the easiest seeds for students to grow successfully
1. Radishes
Radish seeds are quick and easy for students to grow. They germinate in just 3-7 days and are ready to harvest in 3-4 weeks. Radishes are perfect for impatient young gardeners who want fast results. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, adding visual interest to the garden. Radishes can be grown in containers or directly sown in the garden.
2. Green Beans
Beans are satisfying for students to grow because they produce something edible. Pole and bush green beans are prolific producers ideal for container or garden growing. Beans germinate readily and grow quickly, producing beans that can be eaten fresh or left to mature and dry. Shelling the dried beans is an engaging sensory activity.
3. Marigolds
Marigolds are hardy annuals that germinate easily and bloom brightly all season long. Their cheery color and simple daisy-like blossoms appeal to young students. Marigolds can be grown in containers and transplanted to garden beds. Some varieties grow quite tall, while others form a compact bush. Pinching off spent blooms encourages more flowers.
4. Zinnias
These colorful warm season annuals are easy to direct sow in the garden. Zinnias thrive in full sun and come in a vibrant range of sizes, colors and bloom shapes like cactus, dahlia and more. Butterflies love visiting the nectar-rich flowers. Zinnias make excellent cut flowers and bloom continuously through the growing season.
5. Sunflowers
Iconic sunflowers capture students’ imaginations and are simple to grow from seed. Giant sunflower varieties can grow 12 feet tall, while dwarf types max out around 3 feet. Sunflowers are unfussy, thrive with full sun and make an impressive display in any garden. At season’s end, leave some heads for birds to enjoy.
6. Pumpkins
With their great size and orange color, pumpkins attract students’ attention. Give each student a few seeds to plant in a hill, or sow seeds in a large container for the class to share. Train vines to sprawl or pinch them back to fit a smaller space. Students will eagerly measure their pumpkins as they swell. Carving jack-o-lanterns is a fun finale.
7. Scarlet Runner Beans
These fast-growing beans produce brilliant sprays of scarlet flowers attractive to hummingbirds. The beans can be eaten when young and tender. A teepee trellis shows off the vigorous vines and large blossoms. Runner beans grow 6-10 feet tall and add vertical color to gardens. Let students decorate and play in the bean teepee hideaway.
8. Nasturtiums
No fussy care is required for these cheery edible flowers with rounded leaves. Nasturtiums bloom in vivid shades of orange, yellow and red all season long, adding pops of color to any garden. The peppery tasting flowers and leaves add flair to salads. Nasturtiums can be grown in garden beds or containers located in full sun to part shade.
9. Morning Glories
Young gardeners like morning glories because they grow quickly and have lots of flowers. Soak the hard seeds overnight, and then plant them an inch deep when it’s no longer cold outside. You can grow morning glories on trellises or let them grow freely in flower beds. The trumpet-shaped flowers are blue, purple, and white, and they close up at night. Plants self-seed readily.
10. Cosmos
These pretty, feathery-leaved flowers bloom prolifically in summer and fall in lovely colors like pink, orange, white and red. The daisy-like flowers attract butterflies and make carefree cut flowers. Cosmos thrive in average soil and full sun. For earlier blooms, start seeds indoors 4 weeks before last frost. Direct sowing is also successful.
Tips for Gardening Success
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Choose seeds suited to your climate and growing season. Consult local gardeners or your area’s cooperative extension service for recommendations.
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Read seed packets for planting depth, spacing, sun requirements and days to maturity to guide planting.
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For earlier harvests, start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Harden off seedlings before transplanting them outdoors.
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Sow successive crops of quick growers like radishes and greens to keep the harvests coming.
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Mulch garden beds to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. Regularly pull weeds and gently work the soil’s surface to keep it from crusting over.
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Group plants with similar needs together for easier care. Give sun lovers the sunniest bed, shade plants the shadiest spot, etc.
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Water when top inch of soil is dry. Most seeds and seedlings need consistent moisture for best growth. Avoid overwatering.
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Fertilize lightly with a balanced organic fertilizer or compost tea a few weeks after seedlings emerge and again midseason.
With some simple preparation, rich soil, ample sun and consistent moisture, students will find growing plants from seed rewarding and fun. The seeds above offer beginner gardeners high odds of success. Allow students to track the growth of their plants by measuring, drawing or writing observations. Before you know it, they’ll be enjoying the fruits (and flowers!) of their gardening labors.
Germination Time: 7-10 days
If this article were just about the speed from sowing to harvest, I probably wouldnt include this one. Tomatoes do require some patience while waiting for harvests to begin. Dont let that discourage you, though. Tomato seeds germinate very quickly (in as few as 5 days) and theyre a lot of fun to grow! Plus, with the ideal sowing time being 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, theyre often one of the first vegetables to be sown indoors. I cant think of a better activity for a cold day.
If your child is a bit on the antsy side (or maybe you are— we dont judge) there are tomato varieties that produce pretty quickly. Our Siberian tomatoes, for example, can produce in as few as 6 weeks from transplant, and our Texas Tiny tomatoes have been known to set fruit before theyre even transplanted. However, you should know that Texas Tiny is like Jack and the Beanstalk in the tomato world, with vines that can grow more than 15 feet long. One more reason for kids to love them, I suppose.
The last point Id like to press here is that many children love tomatoes, either inherently or with persistence, and this is particularly true for the sweet cherry types. Kids in our family would climb up on the cages and pick cherry tomatoes by the handful before they could even walk. A cherry tomato that is fully ripe probably tastes like candy to a young child who hasn’t had the super-sweet foods that are common today.
Our 7 Favorite Fast-Growing Seeds for Kids
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Fast & Easy Seed Germination: How to Start Seedlings from Paper Towel Method (Container vs Baggie)
FAQ
What is the easiest seed to grow in the classroom?
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Beans and Peas:These are popular choices for kids due to their large seeds, which are easy for little hands to manipulate. They also germinate quickly, allowing for a quick visual reward for the students’ efforts.
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Radishes:Radishes sprout quickly and are a good choice for classroom projects where students can observe their growth and even taste the radishes.
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Nasturtiums:These flowers are attractive and edible, with both the leaves and flowers being tasty and adding a bit of fun to the classroom garden.
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Sunflowers:Sunflowers are easy to grow and have impressive germination rates.
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Other options:Consider lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, and corn for a variety of classroom gardening experiences.
What seeds are easy to grow for kids?
Easy to Grow Seeds for Kids Garden PackBlue Lake 274 Bush Green Bean. Little Fingers Carrot. Pick a Bushel F1 Cucumber. Black Beauty Zucchini Summer Squash. Crackerjack Mix – African Marigold. Gourmet Salad Lettuce Mix. Sugar Snap Pea. Cherry Belle Radish.
What are the easiest seeds to grow?
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Radishes:Radishes are known for their rapid germination and short growth cycle, often ready to harvest within a few weeks.
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Lettuce:Lettuce seeds germinate easily and grow quickly, particularly in cool weather.
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Spinach:Spinach is another fast-growing leafy green that can tolerate cooler temperatures, making it a good option for spring or fall planting.
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Sunflowers:Sunflowers are very easy to grow from seed, thriving in a variety of conditions and producing beautiful blooms and seeds.
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Beans and Peas:These legumes are known for their ease of germination and growth, with beans often doing well in direct-sown conditions.
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Pumpkins and Squash:These crops are also relatively easy to grow from seed, with pumpkins and squash being known for their abundant yields.
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Corn:Corn is a reliable and easy crop to grow, especially in warmer climates.
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Herbs:Herbs like basil and chives are generally easy to grow from seed, especially in containers or garden beds.
What plants are easy to grow in a classroom?
All Dracaena plants like the soil moist, but not soggy. Drooping or yellowing leaves mean you are over-watering or your pot has poor drainage. They like filtered light. These plants are easy care and great for the classroom.
What is the easiest plant for kids to grow?
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Fast growth:Radishes are among the fastest-growing edible plants, with some varieties ready to harvest in as little as 21 days.
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Instant gratification:Kids can see their efforts paying off quickly, which can be motivating and engaging.
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Easy to handle:Radish seeds are small and easy to plant, making them suitable for young children to work with.
What is the best seed for a beginner?
Easy Plants To Start From SeedVeggiesFlowers and FoliageHerbsBeans Tomato Peppers Spinach Cucumber Lettuce Broccoli SquashZinnias Cosmos Celosia Marigold Calendula Nasturtium Sunflowers Coleus Morning Glories StrawflowerBasil Cilantro Chamomile Dill Lemon balm Sage.