Vegetable Seeds vs Transplants the Benefits of Each

Vegetable seeds vs Transplants the Benefits of Each

Common question among aspiring green thumbers is “Should I use seeds or transplant?"    While both have their benefits, here at the farm we scatter and turn in both.  You might be asking why? Some veggies don’t transplant well and some have shorter days to maturity so transplanting really isn’t required.  Some vegetables take the entire growing season to mature sometimes a little longer so a head start during the growing season is welcome.  

Benefits of using vegetable seeds:

Better price are less expensive and purchased in bulk is always a good idea. 
seeds

Giving gardeners a plethora of variety options when it comes to choosing varieties to suit their wants and needs.

Availability is a big part of getting started in the right direction.  Farmer Susan starts in the Spring to order for the next years variety.  It’s one of those organizational tasks that she loves to do.  Taking a look at prior year results,  she reads the journals, looks at AAS winners and the Midwest Growers Guide.  At our farm we grow beans, carrots, radishes, kale, spinach, cucumbers, herbs peppers, tomatoes, herbs and varieties that grow best in our zone 7.  Watching the weather is another big part of getting it right.  

Transplants:

These require less work and time than direct sowing seeds. Plus, there is no thinning required for some varieties.

Transplants give us a head start. There is no waiting for germination, which is great for vegetables that take a long time to mature.

This all being said the most important part is showing up at the right time, putting in a good days work and getting those seeds and seedlings in the ground.