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sow indoors vs. direct sow

To sow or not to sow…To know what seeds you’ll need to get growing, you’ll first have to figure out which seeds will fare better sown directly into the ground, and which seeds are better suited to be transplanted. A very basic breakdown is to sow indoors tender and heat-loving plants, and to sow outside root crops and cold-hardy plants. Seeds that germinate quickly, like radishes and beans, are also ideal candidates for direct sowing. Also, direct sow plants that are not fans of being transplanted, like peas, beets, squash, spinach, nasturtiums and snapdragons. If you do need to get a head start on these crops, then start indoors in peat pots or fabric bags where they whole bag can be transplanted as to not disturb their roots. 


Cool season vegetables like peas can be direct seeded in early Spring as soon as the soil can be worked.

Cool season vegetables like peas can be direct seeded in early Spring as soon as the soil can be worked.

Warmer season crops like beans are best direct sown after last frost, when the soil warms to at least 60ºF.

Warmer season crops like beans are best direct sown after last frost, when the soil warms to at least 60ºF.

DIRECT SEED: 

vegetables — beans, beets, carrots, chard, cilantro, corn, cucumber, lettuce, peas, pumpkins, radish, spinach, squash, turnips

herbs — calendula, dill

flowers — Bells of Ireland, Larkspur, Love-in-a-Mist, sunflowers, zinnias

Seed starting season quickly overtakes our dining room table at our house.

Seed starting season quickly overtakes our dining room table at our house.

Hope springs eternal with all these seedlings waiting for their trip out to the garden.

Hope springs eternal with all these seedlings waiting for their trip out to the garden.

START INDOORS:

vegetables — Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, leeks, onions, peppers, tomatoes

herbs — basil, lavender, rosemary

flowers — asters, cosmos, marigolds, pansies, violets

Peat and coir pots can be directly-planted into the garden, thus not disturbing the roots of the seedlings.

Peat and coir pots can be directly-planted into the garden, thus not disturbing the roots of the seedlings.

I’ve found great success using biodegradable non-woven fabric seedling bags.

I’ve found great success using biodegradable non-woven fabric seedling bags.

Start indoors in peat or fabric bags to not disturb roots: celery, chard, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, spinach, squash


Once you’ve plotted out which seeds you’re going to sow indoors or out, the next step is to figure out when. Check out our list of sowing dates and how to find out your first and last frost dates.

Because I’m a Northern gardener (zone 5), I often start most of my seeds inside because of our short season, but I’ve down side-by-side comparisons of plants sown indoors vs those direct sown. Whenever possible, the direct sown plants proved to be overall larger, and more vibrant than their transplanted peers. The exceptions I sometimes make for this is when it comes to sowing certain flowers. Because of our shorter season, starting some flowers inside are necessary to be able to enjoy their blooms in time before Jack Frost comes to nip them away.


Visit my FAVORITE VARIETIES to grow to see what’s growing on in my garden this year.

Up next in SEED STARTING 101, When to Start Sowing.