Is it better to buy seeds or plants?

[gonepostal]

I am contemplating that this year. We have a decent greenhouse here, but it seems like they offer veggie plants later in the year than I would normally like. Would it be better to order seeds from a place on-line instead of waiting to buy plants from them? I suppose I could buy the seeds and start them early in the house just as well?

We're hiring someone in to till a small plot in our front yard so that we can have a "working yard" and I am so excited! We do not have a lot of land so need to make the most of what we do have (and hubby and kids have claimed the back yard for playing. )

[shanzone2001]

I have had luck with seeds for the most part, but tomatoes are really hard for me to grow from seeds!!!
Squash and corn do well in seed pods, but I have not had much luck transplanting beans unless they are in a biodegradable pod that I just stick in the ground. Good luck!!!

[gonepostal]

Thank you! :-) If nothing else, it will be an adventure! ;-)

[Marcia in MT]

Try contacting your local extension office -- they will have schedules and advice for your planting.

You might try suggesting to the greenhouse owner that you would like some earlier veggie starts -- if enough people ask, they will probably start doing it.

[gonepostal]

Thanks! :-) They seem to deal mostly in plants, flowers and herbs and not so much in veggies, but it might be worth a try.

[shanzone2001]

Originally Posted by gonepostal

Thank you! :-) If nothing else, it will be an adventure! ;-)

Yes it will! One more suggestion...keep a journal of what you plant, when you planted it, and how you planted it (seed/plant), ect. This will be so helpful for you as you experiment and learn by trial and error. The first few years of gardening (for us) was such a learning experience! You may think that you will remember things from one season to the next, but I know I dont!!! Try starting a compost bin so you will have great nutrition for your garden. I am surprised how much more my beds with compost can produce! Do you have kids? We started vernicomposting and it is cool! Send me a PM if you need suggestions or resource referrals! I am no expert, but have learned a lot the hard way!
Shannon

[gonepostal]

I have five kids ages 8mths-12yrs so they will be a big help whether they want to be or not. ;-) We have chickens, too and will be getting rabbits soon so setting up some compost and using their manure, I think would help as well? I hope to get a few *small* fruit trees, too, but we'll see how that goes. :-) I will look up vernicomposting and greatly appreciate the offer of help! I seem to learn everything the hard way so help along the way so I may not necessarily have to this time would be awesome! ;-)

[shanzone2001]

You can go to Youtube and watch a video about making a vermicomposter for about $6.00. We did this and then just bought the worms. We have chickens and rabbits, too! Unfortunatley the chicken poop is ALL over the yard, so we cannot use it in the garden, but the bunny poop is awesome! (OK, did I just say that?)
I planted a few fruit trees last year and we are hoping for some fruit so we can do some canning- which we are new to, so hopefully we can do it correctly!

[gonepostal]

Awesome! Thanks so much! :-) I googled and they were talking about it in a plastic bin. We totally have some left over sitting down by where we put the chicken and barn droppings that we used for chicks. Someone on our local craigslist is selling a fancy schmancy one, but I want to be sure I'll stick with it before paying $75 for one. haha

[shanzone2001]

Yup, that is the one...the plastic bin!!! Good luck!!!

[Ladyhen]

I do a little bit of both. I start everything I can inside, plant what needs to be direct sown when I can, and buy some things as plants that I want to include but didn't buy seeds for.

Last year, I purchased a pattypan squash plant and it outperformed all of my other squash! This year, I'll be starting those from seed.

I also purchased a lilac bell pepper that was fabulous - and again, I'll be starting those from seed this year, too.

I'm glad I didn't read about what seeds are hard to start before I jumped into it, because my peppers and tomatoes did great from seed. I think it's all about warmth while germinating and lighting once they pop.

[Humburger]

I have never bought plants for my garden. It just never occurred to me. When I lived in Florida, I started the seeds outside in pots and then put them in the garden. When we moved up here, I got some cheap shop lights and started my seeds in the house. Now, we have a couple of home-made 2x4 shelf units with four shelves each and two shop lights over each shelf. They will hold 32 flats. I would highly recommend starting your own seeds, if you are serious about growing your own food.

Not only are they cheaper, but I always start many more than I need. Then I am covered if some plants die, which does happen, and I have some to share or sell.

[Callieslamb]

I like to start from seeds to get more control of varieties offered and know how the transplants have been grown. If they have been allowed to wilt several times, it will affect their production. I ALWAYS see wilted plants at the box stores and nurseries. I still buy some plants every year, it seems. Besides- if you start your own transplants, you can start gardening that much earlier!

Pepper plants take 10-12 weeks to get to good transplant size. Tomatoes 8-10 weeks. Do you have enough time still?

[geo in mi]

Beans, lettuce, spinach, carrots, chard, radishes, let's see, what else?, are pretty easy to start from seed, (okra)so I wouldn't bother. But, why not give some indoor seed starting a try? What do you have to lose? You have the local greenhouse as a backup plan. Tomatoes, peppers, collards(?), maybe a couple of other things...... Just don't wait to long.

[gonepostal]

Sounds great! Thanks for giving me a push! :-) I bet we could set something up in the basement pretty easy with shelves and a shop light or two. DH is totally on board with whatever. He didn't even flinch when I mentioned ordering worms ;-) and my 12yr old son totally wants to do that. I think hubby is used to my "crazy" (to him) ideas after 13+yrs of marriage. ;-)

[IronSight]

I'm trying to be seeds only this year. I built a cold frame to keep them in during the day time and bring them in at night. I'm down south, but the frame keeps the tomatoes and such in the 85 - 90 deg range during the day (when it is 60 - 70 outside) and they get some real sunlight.

No idea if this is gonna work out

[braidsandboots]

There are a few factors. If you want to do everything from seeds sometime in the future AND you financially can afford to buy both seeds and plants for the things that don't work out from seed, try seed. Last year we tried most everything from seed and learned A LOT. We learned we need to start things WAY earlier. We learned that Miracle Grow Organic is horrible and kills everything LOL! We learned how easy to sprout some things are (even if I didn't start them early enough). Because of my mistakes I had to buy some plants to fill in what I messed up from seed. BUT about half of what we grew ended up being from seed. And this year it may be mostly everything.

IF you don't care too much about saving and starting all your own from seeds, then go with plants and don't feel the least bit guilty

[Cheryl in SD]

Do you have access to the library? If so go & browse their gardening section. See if you can find information about square foot gardening. I have a friend in KY (probably about the same zone as you?) who set up her first garden last year using the square foot gardening principles and had great success.

This year I would lay out your beds, pick half a dozen things you want to try, use seed for direct sown veg and buy plants for the rest and begin the process of learning to garden. I would not try it all at once. If you are going to till a space, test the soil after tilling to see what it needs then add accordingly. The local extension office can help with that. Kits are available at most hardware stores.

One thing to remember is that good soil can be created, good drainage i s tougher. If your yard sits in puddles after rain, think about building raised beds.

Children will like helping better if they have their own space. Let them help with the planning and vegetable choices.

[Rocky Fields]

I suggest you buy heirloom veggies and save the seeds of the ones you like. You should teach the kids how to plant, water, and especially how to weed to have fun in the FRONT yard.

[GrannyG]

I have a good friend that sells plants she starts from seed out of her greenhouse. She uses glass windowpanes over her seeds until they come up...says always works for her. I don't like to start mine in the greenhouse too early. I don't want to have to heat it and you never know around here how quick the weather can change.