Four Easy Gardens to Grow with Your Kids
Pick your Plot
So, here’s the thing: I’m growing a lot of plants this year. If you read my last post, you know I have spreadsheets, seed packets, and a slightly obsessive number of notes on companion planting. But when I started talking about this, so many of you said the same thing:
“Kaitlin, I get it. Growing food is lovely in theory—organic, local, wholesome. But I need this to be easy. Just something my kids will actually enjoy, not another thing weighing me down.”
I hear you. So, I’ve broken my garden into four zones—each one offering a different level of commitment and style. Think of this as a gardening menu. Pick what works for you and your crew, and over the season, I’ll share what I’m doing for each bed.
You can choose your own adventure—keep it simple, or go all in on all four(!).
The Pizza Garden (Beginner, Kid-Friendly, Foolproof)
What’s inside: Tomatoes + Basil
Seed starting: Yes, for both.
This one’s a classic. Tomatoes and basil are basically best friends. I’m also obsessed with cherry tomatoes because they’re so easy to eat, so I’ll be doing both beef-y and cherry tomatoes this season. This bed does require seed starting, but I promise it’s manageable and fun to learn if you haven’t done that yet. It also gives you something to do with the kids during the winter that’s never-ending. If you want to get your kids involved in gardening without feeling overwhelmed, this is your best bet. The payoff? Summer pizza nights with toppings you grew yourself.
The Snack Shack (Easy, Quick, and Fun to Harvest)
What’s inside: Carrots + Bush Beans
Seed starting: No! You’ll sow them directly in the garden.
Succession planting: Yes! You’ll learn how to stagger plants through the season.
This is the spot for crunchy, fresh-off-the-vine snacks. Bush beans don’t require much effort—they sprout quickly and keep producing all summer. Carrots take a little patience, but they’re an easy, hands-off crop that thrives alongside bush beans. It’s a great balance—bush beans give you that quick, satisfying growth, while carrots teach kids (and let’s be honest, us too) the joy of waiting for a hidden surprise beneath the soil. Plus, pulling them from the ground is a fun surprise every time. Easy, delicious, and no one will even notice if your kids eat half of it before it makes it inside.
Leafy Greens & Deep Purples (For a Steady, Colorful Harvest)
What’s inside: Kale, Swiss Chard, Beets, Eggplant (with Lettuce added in later)
Seed starting: Yes, for eggplant. Everything else is direct sown.
Succession planting: Absolutely! You’ll learn how to stagger greens and roots through the season.
This is where things get a little more advanced—but still totally doable. Cool-weather crops like kale, Swiss chard, and beets will go in first, while eggplant—started indoors—will hit its stride as summer heats up. As the season moves along, we’ll mix in fresh lettuce and maybe a late round of beets. If you're ready to experiment with timing and succession planting—while still keeping things manageable—this is your zone.
The Bloom Bar (Effortless Flowers for Pollinators)
What’s inside: Zinnias (two kinds), Nasturtium
Seed starting: Nope! Just scatter and go.
If you want to keep it simple but still add some beauty and pollinator-friendly plants, this is your space. These flowers thrive with very little effort, and they’ll make your whole garden feel more alive. Plus, nasturtiums are edible—so we’ll have some fun things to do with those…
Over the season, I’ll be sharing updates on seed starting, transplanting, and harvesting—so you can follow along at your own pace. Whether you stick to one bed or mix and match, you’ll have a clear path forward.
If you’re new to gardening with kids, start with The Pizza Garden. If you want something easy but productive, The Snack Shack is perfect. Ready for more? Leafy Greens & Deep Purples will keep things interesting. And if you just want to toss seeds in the dirt and see what happens, The Bloom Bar is waiting for you.
Pick your path, grab some seeds (I shared my seed selection process here), and let’s get growing.