Starting vegetables, herbs or flowering plants in the garden can be direct seeded or from transplants. Direct seeding is placing seed directly into a designated spot in the garden where the plant is intended to grow for the season. Transplants are young plants started by the gardener early in the season or purchased in pots. Gardeners often directly sow some seed, and transplant others to the garden.
Some plants grow and develop much better if planted from seed, while others will perform much better over a season when started from transplants. Direct sowing is used for plants with tap roots, fine root systems, or plants that establish stronger root systems when germinated in place; others simply do not transplant well.
An advantage of starting from seed is the chance to grow unusual varieties not typically found in the nursery or garden center. It is always disappointing for a gardener to have their heart set on a specific variety and not be able to find it when time comes to plant the garden. Ordering seed from seed company catalogs ensures gardeners have the varieties they want.
Another huge advantage of growing from seed is that the cost of one transplant is often more than a packet of seed with 25 or more seed.
Vegetables in these families establish more quickly from seed than transplants:
• Apiaceae, carrot, parsley, cilantro
• Asteraceae, lettuces
• Brassicaceae, arugula, kale, radish, turnip
• Cucurbitaceae, cantaloupe, cucumbers, squash, watermelon
• Chenopodiaceae, beets, spinach, Swiss chard
• Fabaceae, beans, peas
• Poaceae, sweet corn
Transplants give a huge boost on the season’s growth since they will already have several weeks to several months start; with the boost in their starts, crops mature earlier.
Vegetables in these families establish well from transplants:
• Alliaceae, garlic, leek, onion
• Solanaceae, eggplant, pepper, tomato
To establish transplants:
Transplants should be hardened-off before planting into the garden. Most transplants have been grown in pampered conditions, in greenhouses with high relative humidity, little air movement, controlled temperature, and ample shade. Moving such plants directly into a garden in our hostile environment with low relative humidity, high winds, warm day temperatures, and high light intensity is hard on young plants. After bringing young plants home, gradually move from a sheltered patio to full sun, keeping a close eye on the moisture level of the potting media.
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