Plants from seeds or seedlings: Which are best?
At the start of each growing season, we make a decision on whether to grow our vegetable plants from seed or purchase seedlings.
When deciding on whether to purchase pre-grown plants or start them from seed, consider your monetary and time investment.
Plants that are commercially grown from seed usually are resistant to common plant diseases. In addition, grown plants are conveniently available for purchase at nurseries and garden centers.
Plants, however, do cost more than a seed packet, but nurturing seeds into seedlings requires your time and energy.
Vegetable plants are available for purchase from grocery stores, garden centers and nurseries.
When purchasing vegetable plants, inspect them closely. Stems should be sturdy and upright. Leaves should have a strong color, free of spots, mildews and other disfigurations. Assure that pests, such as white flies, are not on the plant stems or leaves.
Read the vegetable's plant tag carefully to determine if that particular variety meets your needs. The plant tag lists the plant's variety, date to maturity (time from planting until production), the plant's characteristics (size), vegetable size, spacing recommendations, water and sun requirements.
For example, if you want to grow tomatoes for bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches, select a large, dense tomato variety; a cherry tomato plant will yield small, tasty tomatoes for a salad but will make a disappointing sandwich.
If you are in doubt about the plant's health or production for your needs, ask for assistance in making your choices. Transplant nursery plants on a cloudy day, preferably in the morning or evening to avoid excessive sun and dehydration. Water the plants regularly, and watch them grow healthy and strong.
When purchasing seeds, look for reputable dealers and producers. Note the date for which the seeds were packaged. Avoid purchasing seed packets that are water stained, opened, outdated or otherwise damaged. Seed packets in good condition dated for the current year assure your success in producing a healthy crop yield.Similar to plant tags, seed packets include all of the information about that particular variety. Look for the date to maturity, plant size, vegetable yield, sowing instructions and sun and water requirements.If you have a small garden, share or exchange seeds with friends and family.Vegetable seeds that can be directly sown into the garden early in the season include cool weather crops, such as lettuce, peas, spinach, carrots and beets.Later, green beans, squashes and melons can be sown. Soak the seeds for up to six hours prior to sowing to accelerate germination.Tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, eggplant and peppers require a much longer maturity time when grown from seed. These vegetables require an earlier spring start, either indoors under lights, in greenhouses, hoop-houses or cold frames. Once the threat of frost has passed, the seedlings can be hardened off then planted into the garden.Penn State Extension offers guidance on when to plant seeds and transplant seedlings at https://extension.psu.edu/vegetable-planting-and-transplanting-guide. This site also provides information on how to sow succession crops, where one crop is planted after another is harvested. Carrots succeeding beets is an example of this practice.Whether you choose to plant from seed or from greenhouse started plants will depend on your harvesting needs and investment of your time and money. If you have questions about vegetable gardening, call the Master Gardener Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, Ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.eduMichael Pavelek II is a Butler County Master Gardener.
