seed starting?

[samie]

is it really worth it if all you really want is 6-8 tomato plants and 1 cuke plant and maybe a few flowers that need a head start?

(i will buy seeds-beans, bush peas, etc that can be planted directly)

it just seems a waste to start them - i can get a large variety of plants at garden centers - including heirlooms

?

if there are any advantages to seed starting i would love to know because I dont mind taking the time to do it

tyvm :)

[AlchemyAcres]

To Each His Own....
If you're happy with the limited selection from the garden center...go for it.

None of the varieties of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, onion etc. that i plant are available as plants anywhere in this area.

Starting plants from my own saved seed means i don't have to depend on others

Folks start their own seeds for several different reasons.

~Martin

[chloe3388]

I have saved my seed for a few years now. We have a very limited selection in our area too. And I guess I am picky. It really isn't to me that big a problem to start my plants.

Another reason I do it is the problem we have here you may buy sets that say bell pepper and end up with cayenne.. I have shared my starts with friends many times for that very reason..

[denham]

I am experimenting with seed starting this year. I have no idea how it will go. I used newspaper pots, packages of 10 cent seeds from big lots, and $2 bags of potting soil. If it succeeds I will have much more vegetables for a fraction of the price I spent on a couple of plants last year.

IF it succeeds :D So far I have successfully sprouted mustard, broccoli, cabbage, endive, buttercrunch lettuce, and sweet pea (flower) seeds. I will be hardening them off first part of next month probably.

[Penny_Plinker]

To some people who love to grow things, starting the seeds is an enjoyable part of gardening. Feeds that gardening urge when it's too early to actually get out there. It gives you a reason to spring out of bed in the morning, to see if anything came up. You get to water them and take care of them and watch them grow and it can make you more proud of your garden. I can see your point, though if you just need a few plants.

Penny

[leera]

I do it for a mix of reasons.......

It's fun to watch things grow.....

It's easier to find a certain variety in seed than started plants...

It's often cheaper if you're starting a big garden(you can spend $$$ on all the latest,or make your own paper pots and use ordinary shop lights,the possibilities are endless).....

You can start your seeds organically and know what's in the soil....

You can be assured of not bringing pests into your garden......

By starting your own,you can often get a harvest much sooner than waiting to buy started plants.......

That's just some of the reasons people start plants from seed at home......

But it's not for everyone,if you're content to wait longer,and select only from what is available locally,then so be it.People do what makes them happy in the garden,that's all that matters.

[DM]

I think i agree with everyone here... lol

For ME, the only reason to start seeds is to save some money... I use to start all of my plants, and then my dad took that over... Once he quit, i decided it wasn't worth it to ME to go through all that it takes.

These days i go to a lady not far from here that has green houses. She has all the plants i need, and i'm spending my $ locally... I just buy from her, and figure i have enough work with the rest of the gardening...

DM 8)

[yotetrapper23]

I do it because I enjoy it, to save money, and because there is no way I could ever afford a fraction of everything I that I grow from seeds. *I have 200 jugs of wintersown perennials outside now, and am now starting on my flats under lights. *In the next month, I will have started probably about 8 flats inside. *Around here, a flat costs nearly $20 and that is for 48 plants. *My flats house 72 plants per flat. *That figures out to about 12 flats, or $200 and some dollars, not counting the wintersown stuff. * I have less than $20 into soil and seeds and such, and I usually save my flats.

I have no idea on whether I would start seeds if I was just planting a few? *I never just plant a few, as I can most all of the veggies that we eat.

[Terri]

I MISS the scent of growing things in the winter!

So, yes, I start seedlings on the windowsill, OR a mineature rose, OR.........

Tomatos have a WONDERFULLY strong scent! They would be LOVELY to start!

But, no, I see little PRACTICAL value in starting 7 plants instead of buying them!

[rivahmom]

I enjoy starting seeds for the variety and the fun of it. I can find a nice variety heirloom veggies that I cant find as plants. I do buy many herbs and flowers as plants because I have more sucess with them in that form.

[tomato204]

I start my own for most of the above reasons. Can't find plants of the right variety locally. My neighbor buys his plants and feeds them everything known to man, but still asks "how do you get your tomatoes so big?" Well, duh, plant seeds from big tomatoes *;D
If walmart and Lowes both go out of business, I have enough seeds to last me forever (if I keep saving), ha ha.

[tomato204]

It's only a little more work to start 30 plants as it is to start 6-8. Why not grow some more for barter?

[denham]

My little seedlings are starting to look kind of sad. Like they might be on the verge of dying on me. I never did have much of a green thumb so I may end up buying the plants anyway.

[homesteaderbelle]

I start my own seeds for many different reasons.

The First reason I start my own seeds is because I can't always find the plants I am looking for in the stores. I heard that this year it will be very hard to find Rudker tomatoe plants, that is only tomatoe that my family cans, so I saved my seeds from last year and started them in the house.

Another reason of why I start my own seeds is because I save my seeds from my plants of the previous year so it is cheaper for me to do that way. If I already have the seeds saved there is no reason for me to go out and buy a plant in the store that I could have grown myself.

I also start my own seeds because I know that my plants haven't been fertilized with chemicals or sprayed with pesticides. I know that my plants are all natural and only fertilized with my own goat's and rabbit's manure.

* * * * * * * * * * *Belle

[pcrowder]

i don't know if it's worth it or not - it's something you kinda have to decide. I've had mixed results starting seeds, but I think my trouble was directly related due to the amount of time I had to water/fuss over them. There were some years I had more free time to water them consistently, and other years where things were more chaotic, and watering was kinda of a "hit or miss" operation! It's certainly cheaper to start from seed, but alot of it depends on what you want to do.
Good luck, whatever you decide! ;D

[denham]

my squash plant was doing great started from seed, then i planted it in the garden and it looks like it's dying. maybe i didn't harden it off well enough, who knows.

[rockymtngirl]

HI Denham - I have found that squash, cukes, melons and the like do much better just planting the seeds directly outside. I had the same problem last year as you describe so I threw some seeds in the garden and voila! plants grew quickly and produced fine. Just my .02

Rocky