How to Start a Cheap and Easy Container Garden for Daycare

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If you’ve been running a daycare for any length of time, you already know—feeding kids is expensive. And with grocery prices climbing higher every day, it’s enough to make you want to cry in the snack aisle. But what if I told you that you could grow your own fresh fruits and veggies without a garden and without spending a fortune? Yep, it’s possible! A container garden is the budget-friendly, space-saving, and surprisingly easy way to keep your daycare stocked with homegrown goodness. Let’s talk about how you can set one up—even if you’ve never grown anything in your life.

Back in the Day: Surviving on a Tight Budget

Back in the day, I leaned heavily on places like the 99 Cents Store to keep my childcare budget in check. Whether it was snacks, craft supplies, or cleaning products, that store saved my life more times than I can count. But now? Well, that store is long gone, and let’s be real—everything is ridiculously expensive. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I were still running my childcare today.

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With food prices skyrocketing, we have to get creative. That’s why I want to talk about something that can help stretch your budget and feed the kids fresh, healthy food—starting a container garden. And don’t worry, you don’t need a fancy greenhouse or a green thumb to make this work. If you can keep a kid alive (and thriving) for ten hours a day, you can keep a few plants alive, too.

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Why a Container Garden is a Game-Changer for Your Childcare

A container garden is exactly what it sounds like—growing food in containers instead of in the ground. And before you think, “I don’t have time for that,” hear me out.

A small garden can:

Save you money on fresh fruits and veggies for meals and snacks.
Teach kids where food comes from and get them excited about eating their veggies (it’s like magic!).
Add a fun, hands-on learning experience that keeps little hands busy and engaged.
Make your daycare stand out—parents love providers who go the extra mile for their kids’ nutrition.
Turn mealtime into a fun activity when kids get to eat what they grew.

Still with me? Great! Let’s get into how to make this happen on the cheap.

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How to Set Up a Container Garden Without Breaking the Bank

You don’t need fancy gardening beds or expensive planters. The secret? Plastic storage tubs. Yep, the same ones you probably already have stacked in your garage. Here’s how to get started:

Materials

Plastic storage tubs or buckets (Check thrift stores, discount stores, or repurpose old ones!)
Potting soil (Look for bulk deals at garden centers or home improvement stores)
Raised Bed Liner
Seeds or starter plants (Choose easy-to-grow veggies—more on that in a bit!)
A sunny spot for your containers (at least 6 hours of sunlight per day)

Tools

A drill or something to poke drainage holes

Instructions

1. Prep Your Containers

Drill or poke drainage holes in the bottom of each tub (because drowning plants is not the goal here).
Place a raised bed liner in the container
Fill with potting soil, leaving about 2 inches of space at the top.

2. Pick the Right Plants

Not all plants thrive in containers, so choose wisely. Here are some easy, low-maintenance options:

Best Vegetables for Container Gardens:

Cherry tomatoes – Kids love picking these right off the vine.

Lettuce – Grows fast, and you can keep harvesting leaves as needed.
Carrots – Perfect for deep tubs.
Bell peppers – Colorful and easy to grow.
Green beans – Super productive and fun for kids to pick.
Strawberries – Because who doesn’t love strawberries?

Bonus: If you have extra space, throw in some basil or mint—great for adding fresh flavors to meals.

Notes

💡PRO-TIP: If you are repurposing old containers, make sure they are free from or never housed anything toxic and use a raised bed liner in your containers.

Getting the Kids Involved

This isn’t just about growing food—it’s about teaching kids important skills like patience, responsibility, and teamwork. Here’s how to get them involved:

Let them pick some of the plants – Kids are more likely to eat something they had a hand in growing.
Assign daily watering duties – Make it a fun routine.
Teach them how to harvest – Show them how to pick veggies gently.
Do taste tests – Compare store-bought vs. homegrown.

Read books about gardening – A great one to check out is The Journey of the Little Sprout: A Guide for Growing a Better Tomorrow by Christina Kamp. It’s perfect for teaching kids about gardening in a fun, engaging way.

green leafed seedlings on black plastic pots — Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Easy Garden Maintenance Schedule

To keep your garden thriving, follow this simple schedule:

Daily:

Check if the soil is dry—if it is, water the plants.
Do a quick pest check (no one invited bugs to lunch!).

Weekly:

Remove any dead leaves or weeds.
Harvest anything that’s ready to eat.
Add a little compost or plant food if needed.

Monthly:

Celebrate your wins—whether it’s a bumper crop of tomatoes or the first tiny carrot!

Rotate crops if something isn’t thriving.

Replace soil if it looks compacted or unhealthy.

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Final Thoughts: Turning Pennies into Prosperity

Finding creative ways to stretch your childcare budget can be a blessing in disguise. Not only can a container garden save you money on groceries, but it also provides fresh, healthy food for the kids, teaches them valuable life skills, and makes your daycare stand out.