Seeds vs Transplants
As you plan your garden, you might be wondering: “Should I plant seeds from a seed packet, or buy larger plants that someone already started for me?”
Starts are plants that have been pre-grown in a controlled environment such as a greenhouse—from there you can transplant them into your garden beds. You’ve probably seen these at farmers markets or your local garden store. There are a few pros and cons of each approach.
Cost
On this front, seeds clearly win. A packet of seeds will probably cost less than a single plant start.
Time
If you’re starting out late or in a rush to enjoy the, ahem, fruits of your labors, then plant starts can get you closer, faster. Of course, this depends on your goals and patience levels. I find something character-building about waiting and watching for my seeds to sprout. It’s also great for involving little kids (“have they sprouted yet?!”). That said, I once moved somewhere new in June and was in a hurry to get my garden going before the season passed me by. In a case like that, starts made a lot of sense.
Growing from starts gives you that feel of an “instant” garden. An empty garden bed can be transformed into a planted space in just an hour or two. If this is your first garden, you might want to set yourself up for success by buying starts for all or most of your plants to give yourself a “win” and encourage yourself in this journey.
Aesthetics and Control
We humans sometimes want a bit more control in the garden. With all the wind and cold and rain and birds and squirrels, there’s no guarantee that all the seeds you plant will germinate. Whereas if you plant pre-grown starts, each start has a much higher chance of maturing to food-producing bounty compared to each individual seed you plant yourself. This can be helpful when growing space is at a premium and you want to maximize your yield, as well as when aesthetics and neat rows are preferred.
I know one gardening expert who never uses starts in his own garden, consciously taking the easiest path—and he’s OK with relinquishing control and embracing that what comes up, comes up. In the end, it comes down to your preferences and priorities.
Species
Transplanting disturbs the roots of the plant, and some plants simply do not like that. These include root crops such as carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, and radishes. These should be direct-seeded for best results.
Then there’s a whole category of seeds that are traditionally direct-seeded, even though you could buy them as starts if you wanted to. These include lettuce, kale, spinach, greens, onions, cucumbers, beans, melons, sunflowers, and both summer & winter squashes.
Finally, you’ve got the plants that take a long time to grow into their full, mature, and bountiful selves. Some of these (think tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants) also prefer the heat. In our climate, the number of growing months is limited, so planting well-sized starts would get you ahead of the game and give you a longer harvest window. Let’s remember that gardening is full of mistakes. Some things will work, some won’t. We learn from each season and improve our knowledge and skills in the process. Not sure where to start? That’s where garden coaching comes in. I help my clients figure out what they want to do in their gardens and troubleshoot their issues, to help them gain the sense of accomplishment that comes from growing their own food.
I am the founder of Grow Our Food (www.growourfood.com), a local foodscaping firm that wants to get as many people as possible growing (and sharing) their own vegetables, berries, and fruits. We offer design, installation, and maintenance services. Please reach out if you’d like a steady hand to guide you through your gardening journey. Let’s grow our food!