5 Easy Crops Kids Can Grow in Santa Cruz
Setting Kids Up for Success
The secret to getting kids excited about gardening is simple: quick wins. Nothing kills enthusiasm faster than waiting months for something to happen. The crops on this list were chosen because they're easy to grow, satisfying to harvest, and fun to eat.
In Santa Cruz County, our mild climate means we can grow most of these crops nearly year-round, giving you plenty of chances to try again if the first attempt doesn't work out.
A few tips before you start:
Give them ownership. Let kids choose which crops to grow and where to plant them.
Start small. One or two plants is plenty for young gardeners.
Check in daily. Short, regular visits beat occasional long sessions.
Celebrate everything. The first sprout, the first flower, the first harvest. Make it a big deal.
| Crop | Why kids love it | Time to harvest (approx.) | Best planting window (Santa Cruz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflowers | Big seeds, huge flowers, and fast, visible growth | 70–100 days from seed | Spring after last frost; roughly March–May near the coast, April inland |
| Cherry tomatoes | Sweet snacks picked straight off the vine | 60–80 days from transplant | Transplant April–June |
| Snap peas | Crunchy, sweet, and ready to eat with no cooking | 60–70 days from seed | Fall (September–November) and early spring (February–March) |
| Radishes | Ready in about a month; feel like “buried treasure” when pulled | 25–35 days from seed | Spring and fall; nearly year-round in cool coastal locations |
| Strawberries | Daily “treasure hunt” for ripe berries | 4–6 weeks from spring transplant, then annually each spring | Plant bare-root late winter; potted plants in spring or early fall |
1. Sunflowers
Sunflowers might be the perfect first plant for kids. The seeds are big enough for little fingers to handle, they sprout quickly, and the results are dramatic. Watching a sunflower grow taller than you are is unforgettable.
Why kids love them:
Giant seeds are easy to plant
Visible growth almost daily once they get going
Dramatic height (some varieties reach 10 feet or more)
Flowers attract bees and birds
Seeds can be harvested and eaten (or saved for next year)
How to grow:
Plant seeds directly in the ground after last frost (or nearly any time in Santa Cruz)
Choose a sunny spot
Plant seeds 1 inch deep, 6 inches apart
Water regularly until established
Watch them grow!
Time to harvest: 70 to 100 days from seed
Varieties to try: 'Mammoth' for maximum height, 'Teddy Bear' for a shorter, fluffy option, 'Autumn Beauty' for multi-colored blooms
Kid tip: Measure the sunflower's height each week and mark it on a chart. Kids love tracking the progress.
2. Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are the ultimate garden snack. Kids can graze right off the vine, and there's something magical about eating food you grew yourself while standing in the garden.
Why kids love them:
Bite-sized and sweet
Endless harvest once they start producing
Come in fun colors (red, yellow, orange, even purple)
Satisfying "pop" when you pick them
How to grow:
Start with transplants for faster results
Plant in a sunny spot after soil warms (April through June in Santa Cruz)
Provide a cage or stake for support
Water consistently at the base
Pinch off suckers for bushier plants (or don't, it's fine)
Time to harvest: 60 to 80 days from transplant
Varieties to try: 'Sungold' (super sweet, orange), 'Sweet 100' (classic, prolific), 'Black Cherry' (rich flavor, purple-brown)
Kid tip: Give each child their own plant to care for. Let them pick and eat as many as they want. This is not the crop to worry about sharing.
3. Snap Peas
Snap peas are fast, easy, and completely edible right off the vine. No shelling, no cooking, just crunchy sweetness. They're also one of the few vegetables many kids will eat without complaint.
Why kids love them:
Satisfying snap when picked
Sweet flavor, no cooking required
Watching the vines climb is exciting
Quick to produce
How to grow:
Plant seeds directly in the ground
Best planted in fall or early spring in Santa Cruz (they like cool weather)
Provide a simple trellis, fence, or even sticks for climbing
Water regularly but don't overdo it
Harvest when pods are plump but still bright green
Time to harvest: 60 to 70 days from seed
Varieties to try: 'Sugar Snap' (the classic), 'Super Sugar Snap' (stringless), 'Cascadia' (compact, good for containers)
Kid tip: Plant peas at the base of a teepee made from bamboo poles. Kids love having a secret garden hideout.
4. Radishes
When kids ask "is it ready yet?" every five minutes, radishes are your answer. They're one of the fastest crops you can grow, ready to pull in about a month. The magic of pulling a bright red vegetable out of the ground never gets old.
Why kids love them:
Super fast (visible sprouts in days)
Easy to see when they're ready (shoulders pop out of the soil)
Pulling them out is like finding buried treasure
Come in fun colors and shapes
How to grow:
Plant seeds directly in the ground, 1/2 inch deep
Grow in spring or fall for best results (they bolt in summer heat)
Thin to 2 inches apart once sprouted
Water consistently
Harvest when you see the top of the radish pushing out of the soil
Time to harvest: 25 to 35 days from seed
Varieties to try: 'Cherry Belle' (classic red globe), 'French Breakfast' (oblong, mild), 'Watermelon' (white outside, pink inside, great for picky eaters)
Kid tip: Plant a short row every two weeks for continuous harvests. Let kids pull them, wash them with the hose, and eat them right there.
5. Strawberries
Strawberries are a long-term investment that pays off year after year. Once established, a strawberry patch produces handfuls of berries every spring with minimal effort. For kids, a ripe strawberry still warm from the sun is garden magic.
Why kids love them:
Universally loved fruit
Low to the ground, easy to pick
Hunt-and-find aspect (spotting ripe berries under leaves)
Plants come back year after year
How to grow:
Start with transplants (bare root in winter, potted in spring)
Plant in a sunny spot or containers
Keep soil moist but not soggy
Mulch with straw to keep berries clean (and fight weeds)
Remove runners to focus energy on fruit, or let them spread
Time to harvest: 4 to 6 weeks from spring transplant, then every spring
Varieties to try: 'Seascape' (day-neutral, produces spring through fall), 'Albion' (excellent flavor), 'Chandler' (big berries, Santa Cruz favorite)
Kid tip: Let kids check for ripe berries every morning. It becomes a daily treasure hunt, and they'll eat more fruit than you ever thought possible.
Bonus: Nasturtiums
Not a vegetable, but nasturtiums deserve an honorable mention. They're nearly impossible to kill, bloom in bright oranges and yellows, and every part is edible (flowers, leaves, and seeds). They grow fast, reseed themselves, and tolerate neglect.
Why kids love them:
Big seeds are easy to handle
Grow in poor soil, no fussing required
Edible flowers in bright colors
Attract beneficial insects
How to grow:
Plant seeds directly in the ground, 1/2 inch deep
Choose a sunny to partly shady spot
Don't fertilize (they prefer lean soil)
Water occasionally
Pick flowers to encourage more blooms
Kid tip: Add nasturtium flowers to salads or use them to decorate homemade pizzas. Kids love eating flowers.
Let Them Lead
The best crop for your kid is the one they're excited about. If they want to grow pumpkins because they're obsessed with Halloween, grow pumpkins. If they only want flowers, plant flowers.
The goal isn't a productive vegetable garden. It's a kid who wants to come back outside tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Vegetables with Kids in Santa Cruz County
What is the easiest vegetable for kids to grow in Santa Cruz County?
Radishes are the easiest and fastest vegetable for kids to grow in Santa Cruz County. They're ready to harvest in just 25 to 35 days, sprout visibly within days, and pulling them from the ground feels like finding buried treasure. Plant in spring (March through May) or fall (September through November) for best results. Cherry tomatoes are a close second for ease and kid appeal, providing endless sweet snacks once they start producing.
When should kids plant vegetables in Santa Cruz County?
Santa Cruz County's mild climate allows year-round gardening with kids. Sunflowers, cherry tomatoes, and strawberries do best planted in spring (April through June). Snap peas thrive in cool weather, so plant in fall (September through November) or early spring (February through March). Radishes grow in spring or fall. Nasturtiums can be planted almost any time. This flexibility means kids can start gardening whenever they're interested.
What vegetables can kids grow year-round in Santa Cruz?
In Santa Cruz County's mild climate, kids can grow radishes, lettuce, and nasturtiums nearly year-round with success in different microclimates. Coastal areas like Aptos and Capitola stay cool enough for radishes and snap peas even in summer. Warmer inland areas like Boulder Creek and Watsonville are perfect for sunflowers and tomatoes spring through fall. Strawberries produce mainly in spring but the plants stay green and interesting year-round.
How long does it take to grow vegetables with kids in Santa Cruz?
Radishes are fastest at 25 to 35 days from seed to harvest. Snap peas take 60 to 70 days. Cherry tomatoes need 60 to 80 days from transplant. Sunflowers take 70 to 100 days. Strawberries produce 4 to 6 weeks after spring planting, then every spring after. For impatient kids, plant radishes first for quick success, then add longer-season crops like tomatoes and sunflowers.
What vegetables will kids actually eat from the garden?
Cherry tomatoes are the winner! Most kids who won't eat sliced tomatoes will happily eat sweet cherry tomatoes right off the vine. Snap peas are a close second with their crunchy, sweet flavor and no cooking required. Strawberries are universally loved. Radishes surprise many parents because kids enjoy the mild crunch when freshly picked. The key is letting kids harvest and eat immediately, making it an adventure rather than a chore.
Do these crops work in all Santa Cruz County microclimates?
Yes, with timing adjustments! Coastal areas (Aptos, Capitola, Live Oak) are perfect for snap peas, radishes, and cool-season crops. Warmer inland areas (Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Scotts Valley, Watsonville) excel with tomatoes and sunflowers. Foggy areas do better with peas and radishes than heat-loving tomatoes. Strawberries adapt to all microclimates. Understanding your microclimate helps you know when to plant for best success with kids.
What if my child loses interest before harvest?
This is normal! Focus on fast crops like radishes (ready in a month) that match short attention spans. Make checking the garden part of a daily routine (before breakfast or after school). Let kids harvest and eat immediately for instant gratification. If they lose interest completely, that's okay too. The goal is positive outdoor experiences, not perfect gardening. You can always try again next season with a different crop that excites them.
Can kids grow these vegetables in containers in Santa Cruz?
Absolutely! All five crops work in containers, perfect for small spaces in Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, or Scotts Valley. Cherry tomatoes need a 5-gallon pot minimum. Strawberries thrive in pots and hanging baskets. Radishes and snap peas grow in window boxes or shallow containers. Sunflowers need deep pots (at least 12 inches) for their long roots. Container gardening lets kids have their own portable garden on patios, balconies, or driveways.
