Gardening With Children This Half Term: Easy Salad Leaves, Basil & Chillies to Grow at Home
Half term is the perfect time to get children outdoors, away from screens, and excited about growing their own food. At Rainwater Terrace, we love simple gardening projects that are fun, educational, and rewarding for the whole family and growing salad leaves, basil, and chillies from seed is one of the easiest ways to start.
Whether you have a large garden, patio, balcony, or just a sunny windowsill, children as young as 7 can successfully grow tasty crops at home with just a few pots, compost, seeds, and rainwater.
What We’re Growing This Half Term
This week we’re planting:
- Rocket
- Red lettuce
- Basil
- Chillies
These are fantastic beginner plants because they grow quickly, are easy to care for, and help children see results fast which keeps them engaged and excited.
Why Growing Food With Children Is So Valuable
Gardening teaches children:
- Patience and responsibility
- How food is grown
- The importance of water conservation
- Healthy eating habits
- Confidence through nurturing something themselves
There’s also something incredibly satisfying about picking fresh salad leaves that your child helped grow from seed.
The Best Plants for Children to Grow
Rocket
Rocket grows very quickly and can often be harvested in just a few weeks. Its peppery leaves are perfect for salads and sandwiches.
Red Lettuce
Colourful and fun to grow, red lettuce varieties are easy for children to recognise as they develop. You can harvest leaves gradually as they grow.
Basil
Basil smells amazing and grows brilliantly on sunny windowsills or patios. Children love touching the leaves and using them in homemade pizza or pasta.
Chillies
Chilli plants are exciting because children can watch the peppers slowly change colour as they mature. They also make brilliant patio plants during summer.
Why Rainwater Is Better for Plants
Using collected rainwater can help plants thrive naturally while reducing household water use during warmer months.
Rainwater is:
- Naturally softer than tap water
- Better for many plants
- More environmentally friendly
- Free to collect
A water butt makes it easy for families to teach children about sustainability while keeping plants watered throughout summer.
Easy Gardening Tips for Families
- Let children fill pots with compost
- Use lolly sticks or labels to mark seeds
- Water little and often
- Keep salad leaves in a sunny spot
- Take weekly photos to track progress
- Harvest together for meals
Perfect for Small Gardens & Patios
You don’t need a huge vegetable patch to grow fresh food. Salad leaves and herbs are ideal for:
- Small gardens
- Raised beds
- Containers
- Balcony gardens
- Patio planters
Even one small growing area can produce fresh ingredients all summer long.
Make Gardening More Sustainable This Summer
At Rainwater Terrace, we believe gardening should be simple, enjoyable, and environmentally friendly. Collecting rainwater with a water butt is one of the easiest ways to reduce water waste while helping plants flourish naturally.
If you’re planning family gardening projects this summer, now is the perfect time to set up your garden for the growing season.
Browse our range of:
Start Growing Together This Half Term
Growing food from seed is one of the most rewarding activities to do with children. From the first tiny seedlings to harvesting fresh salad for dinner, it’s a brilliant way to spend time outdoors together this half term.
Visit Rainwater Terrace for water-saving gardening ideas and products to help your family garden more sustainably this summer.