Seeds vs. Seedlings - Which One Should You Choose?
Seeds vs. Seedlings - Which One Should You Choose?
Its time to start planning and preparing our summer veggie garden and one question I always get asked by beginner gardeners is whether you should start your veggies off by seed or seedling. And so today, Im going to answer this for you!
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There are many factors and things to consider when it comes to the decision of whether to start by seed or seedling. And really theres no right answer! I usually recommend beginner gardeners to start most plants off by seedling, to gain a little confidence in their first year of gardening because it is simply easier to look after a plant thats more mature than trying to look after a plant by seed. That way, instead of having to also deal with all the extra tasks and energy needed to germinate seeds, you can spend your first year of gardening just focusing on learning how to raise the plant in the garden. That way, you have less to stress about in the first year or so. Once you feel confident with keeping your seedlings happy in the garden, then you can add on an extra step of learning to also grow your plants by seed!
This is how I would feel is the easiest introduction to growing your own food and to not feel so overwhelmed with everything from the beginning.
Of course, its not that all simple. So Ive listed a number of considerations that you might also want to take into account as well. I hope its helpful!
Should You Use Seeds or Starter Plants ...
For me, half the fun of starting a vegetable garden comes at this time of year, when I sit down with a stack of seed catalogs to look at all the new varieties and decide which ones Ill try. Once I have my choices narrowed down, the next step is to figure out which seeds Ill start indoors under lights and which ones Ill sow directly into the garden.
Other gardeners may opt to bypass this seed stage altogether, and simply buy starter plants from the garden centerwhere more varieties seem to be offered each year. Whats the difference? Well, most notably, cost. An entire packet of seeds will often cost less than one starter plant or pack. And not to worry if you dont plant all of them in one seasonmany seed varieties will remain viable for several years. Additionally, theres still much more variety to be had with seeds than with plants sold at the garden center, and seeds are highly portable and can be easily shared with other gardeners.
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On the other hand, theres more risk involved in planting seeds; some may not germinate, or plants youve started indoors might not be hardened off enough to endure outdoor weather extremes. An indoor growing environment requires grow lights or at least bright sunlight from a window, along with planting materials and the space to do it, so theres time, effort, and expense involved.
Starter plants are ready to be planted, and youre presumably choosing the healthiest-looking specimens, so theres less risk of failure. Although they may not be fully hardened off, theyre usually displayed outside or at least in an environment where theyve developed some resilience to the elements. Youre also purchasing a plant with momentum, and if conditions are favorable, one thats ready to take off when its planted in the grounda head start that may make for an earlier harvest. All of these factors make starter plants a very attractive option for many gardeners, particularly those who are pressed for time.
What you dont get from a starter plant is something less tangible: the fun of beginning from scratch and seeing a seedling emerge and grow into a mature plant. Thats what I look forward to most, and its why each year I start a substantial number of vegetables from seed.
But which seeds should you start indoors vs. direct planting in the garden? In general, Ive found it works best to start seeds indoors of the early varieties that can tolerate cold like greens, lettuces, broccoli, and cabbage, which can be transplanted into a cold frame or even the garden sooner than anything else. Many herbs are another sure bet for indoor starting. Also, tender plants such as peppers, tomatoes and eggplant that cant go outside until all danger of frost has passed do well as seeds started under grow lights. Ive also started cucumbers, squash, melons, beans, peas, and beets indoors, but Ive found theres often not much benefit in it. Unlike peppers and tomatoes, they dont take as well to transplanting or to sitting for long periods under grow lights, which tends to make them leggy and saps them of momentum. Plus, once the soil in the garden warms up enough, these vegetables are quick to germinate from seed and are rapid growers. Other vegetables that are more practical to sow directly into the garden are carrots, parsnips, turnips, and radishes.
If you decide to start seeds indoors for the first time, you may find yourself being tempted to want to try some of everything. Ive found that its best to start out slow the first season with a few varieties and see how it goes. Then again, you can start a lot of things, and if some dont work out you can always buy them as plants from the garden center!
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