One of our garden goals for this year was to rely more on starting produce from seeds rather than buying plants from the stores. Seed packets are cheap, readily available, and allow you to plant anywhere at anytime. However, there are some important things to consider when seeding, knowing whether to direct sow or start indoors. Read on to learn what is best for your garden.

Direct Sowing

Direct sowing refers to placing seeds directly into the ground where you plan to grow your produce. This can be into containers, raised beds or just into the soil of your outdoor space.

Pros:

• No transplant shock
• No additional equipment or space is needed
• Saves time

Cons:

• Hard to see where you planted and what isn’t a weed when seedlings emerge
• Vulnerable to weather and pests
• Slower start for gardens with shorter growing windows

Seed Starting

Seed starting generally refers to starting seeds indoors in seed starting trays or small containers and later transplanting outdoors or to a larger container.

Pros:

• Gives plants a head start and avoids frosts
• Easier to control variables such as sunlight, heat and moisture
• Better pest control

Cons:

• Requires investment in seed starting equipment, heat mats, seed trays, grow lights
• Risk of transplant shock or leggy plants
• Time and space commitment

Do Plants Care?

Yes! Some plants especially root vegetables such as carrots, radishes, and beets are hard to transplant because they grow beneath the soil. These should be direct sown. Most summer plants can tolerate being transplanted but the action of disturbing the soil may shock the plant and inhibit initial growth.

Some plants are also pretty fussy when it comes to the ideal germination temperatures. If you plant seeds outside when the ground is too cold, they will not go anything, and potentially just rot. We made that mistake with corn this year. The good news is that you can always re-sow the seeds. Following the expected germination time can help you keep track of growth.

Tips For Success

1. Choose the right method for the plants you are growing. The general rule is if the produce grows beneath the soil, direct sow. You can always refer to the seed packet for more detailed information.
2. Harden off your seedlings before transplanting outside. Hardening off means bringing the seedlings outside for a period of time each day for 1-2 weeks. You gradually increase the amount of time the seedlings stay outside. Allowing them to get accustomed to the weather and light will help when it is time to transplant.
3. Label and order: When direct sowing make sure to label where you planted. Sowing in ordered rows or using the square foot method (where you use one square foot to plant one type of produce) can help you keep track of what is planted and germinating, versus what are weeds.
4. Use good quality soil: This is important for both indoor and outdoor sowing. For outdoor sowing, especially for root vegetables such as carrots, having fine not rocky soil will help development. For indoor sowing, using a medium such as coconut coir or indoor seed starting mix to provide good drainage, allow root development and prevent pests.
5. Up pot as seedlings get bigger: If planting indoors in individual seed trays, egg cartons or other trays, be sure to transplant the small seedlings into larger pots once they get their first set of true leaves. Otherwise you will be starving the plant of vital nutrients and space to develop a larger root system.
6. Ensure adequate light: Even with grow lights, indoor seedlings can become leggy if they are not close enough to the light or the light is not strong enough. Once the seedlings have germinated make sure they are very close (2-3 inches) from the light source and continue to move away from the light as they get taller.
7. Water from the bottom: Initially while seeds are germinating gently mist the top layer of the soil to keep it moist. Once the seeds have germinated, switch to bottom watering to encourage root development and prevent mold and dampening off.
8. Keep track of dates: Most seed packets list the germination timeframe for seeds. We talk about the importance of keeping a garden journal; tracking when you sow and when you should see seedlings emerge is a great thing to journal about. If you aren’t seeing germination, check what could be going wrong and re-sow.

Starting from seeds whether indoors or outdoors in a great way to learn about each plant variety and understand what works best for you. We have enjoyed being able to watch plants grow and the flexibility that growing from seed has offered. We’ve definitely made some mistakes but also had some successes. Next time you see some seeds in the store, pick them up and give it a shot!