Should I get transplants or grow from seed?

There are several factors when deciding on whether you should buy transplants for your vegetable garden or grow from seed: cost, variety, and the fact that some crops that are just better suited to starting outdoors.  

Cost

Time is money! Transplants or starter plants may save you time when planted in your garden, but that also comes with a much deeper cost. Starter plants can range from $2 to $4 per plant or more at some nurseries and big-box stores. A packet of seeds, on the other hand—which can contain 100 or more seeds, depending on the variety—typically ranges from $1 to $3 per packet.

Variety

Growing your crops from seed allows you to have more variety in your garden. Instead of growing the same tomatoes every year that your local nursery or big-box store offers, check out different online seed catalogs for a more interesting variety of crops. You might even find something new to grow!

Crop Characteristics

Some vegetables may be difficult to germinate from seed because of the zone you’re in. Where you live might not provide you with enough time to grow a specific crop, so choosing a transplant might be best for you.

There are also some plants that just present more challenges when transplanted. These include corn, cucumbers, squash and beans. I prefer to direct sow beans, carrots, garlic, lettuce, radish, squash and zucchini.

Plan Ahead

If you’re starting from seed, do you know your last frost date? According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the estimated last frost date is April 23rd. This date is essential because it’s how you’ll calculate what you can start planting indoors when. Count the seed maturation days listed on the packet backward from the last estimated frost date so your starter plants will be ready to go when it’s time to transplant. Time management is key to produce successful starters to transplant outdoors.

There’s a lot to learn if you’ve never grown your crops from seed, and you’ll need a lot of patience. But it’s worth the effort!