Seedlings or sowing seed, which is preferred?
Some basic points to consider…
Does your growing season require that the plant get a head start in order to produce in time? Here in the desert we have an earlier growing season than in many places, but for many plants, the summer’s heat will end the season early. With a situation of this nature it may be best to plant seedlings.
If the selected seed’s germination and development occur quickly enough, leaving adequate time for the maturing and the harvest, then the seed may be your better choice!
Some plants are very easy to propagate from a seed and others are more difficult. The following is a list a brief list of commonly known, favorable seeds to plant. As always consult your local nursery guru and of course don’t foget other local growers. Good luck!
Crops such as beans, beets, cantaloupe, carrots, chard, collards, corn, cucumbers, kale, mustard, okra, peas, radishes, squash, turnips and watermelons from seed. These plants are difficult to transplant and transplanting offers no advantage over seeding directly in the garden. (Article by Lamont, list is taken from “Plants and Answers“)
If you are dealing with seeds that are very tiny, like carrots, there is an easier way than to just drop them into dirt. If you take a length of toilet paper….that’s right, toilet paper, lay it out on a table, then drop your seeds right down the middle…spacing as package notes. Then fold one side over and use a spray bottle to mist it so it’ll stay folded. Then fold the other side over and mist again. When dry enough to handle, just carry your prize out, lay it where your want your carrots, sprinkle a light covering of dirt on top and then water. Bingo, you gotcha some well spaced carrots and don’t have to lose half of them to space them properly. For heavier seeds, like, say beans, use a strip of newspaper and glue them down with flour & water “paste”. Gotta love the ease of it all.
What excellent ideas!
I sure like what you bring to this site and to the desert farming community.
I am looking forward to more of your posts.