Seeds or Seedlings?

• 

• 

• 

There are definitely signs of spring around and even a few days that are getting warmer. What I like the most, are the longer hours of daylight - and Daylight Saving starts at the end of next month.

The soil is too cold to plant much, but it is time to start thinking about what to grow this spring in the vegetable or flower garden.

Some things to consider are whether to start with seeds or to buy seedlings.

Advantages of Seeds

• It is far cheaper to grow your own plants from seed. A packet of seed can potentially grow into 100 plants at a fraction of the cost of several punnets of seedlings.

  
  

• At the end of the growing season seeds can be collected from seed heads for sowing the next year reducing costs even more.

  
  

• Only a few vegetable varieties are available as seedlings, so growing from seed means there is a wider choice of varieties and better bio-diversity which is less attractive to pest insects and more favourable for beneficial insects. Seeds can be passed down through families or amongst friends.

  
  

• Some plants like root vegetables don’t transplant well and are more likely to succeed when sown directly in the spot where you want them to grow.

  
  

• Seedlings grown from seed in your own conditions tend to be hardier and transplant better than commercially available seedlings as they have germinated and developed in your own micro climate.

  
  

• Seeds can be started indoors earlier so they are ready to transplant as soon as conditions are suitable allowing a longer growing season. The equivalent seedlings may not be available to buy in punnets.

  
  

• It is satisfying and fun to grow your own plants from seeds.

Advantages of Seedlings

• Seedlings grow faster than seeds, and involve a lot less work. Seeds need more admin. - management of sowing dates, germination time, pricking out, hardening off etc.

  
  

• Some seeds need more care and attention with grow lights or heating for successful germination, making the purchase or seedlings a better choice.

  
  

• You are more likely to get good results with tried and tested varieties, especially if healthy seedlings are chosen.

  
  

• If only a few plants are needed due to limited space or to avoid a glut of vegetables at harvest time, a punnet of seedlings as a good choice. There are punnets available that contain 2 plants of 3 varieties.

  
  

• Plants such as tomatoes and peppers, are easier to grow from seedlings as they require a long growing season. In cooler climates planting a good sized seedling will reduce the time until maturity.

  
  

• Seedlings can be planted out when conditions are ideal and once the risk of frost has passed.

A combination of the two is ideal. And whether growing plants from seed or starting with seedlings, it is more important to practise a successive planting regime, where you sow or plant a little bit every week or two rather than mass plant a whole lot all at once.