Making an attempt at an actual garden this year. Do you follow the advice of the seed packet if it says to start then indoors? Or do you just wing it and put them in the ground and let it be survival of the fittest?

What's your personal preference?

I'd say that if you're confident you're past the last freeze, go ahead and plant outside. Planting indoors and moving is definitely harder and even if you are more experienced you will still lose some plants. Make sure to buy heirloom seeds so that you can use the seeds that are produced by your plants. My favorite online store is Eden Seeds.

Thanks!

I've already bought seed packets from the store so heirloom may be too late for this year.

I went ahead and started some seeds in egg crates that I can move inside the garage at night.

Others will just go straight in the ground, and what will be will be.

Good luck!

Tomatoes and Peppers are just too easy to get a six pack from the nursery, and IMO too much work and not as efficient to try to plant seeds around Christmas time so they are ready to transplant in March.

I plant everything else from seeds and have no trouble with spinach from seeds even though you can see them in a six pack at the nursery.

I quit planting most of the Cole crops long ago. To me it is just more work than I wanted to do versus buying them cheap at HEB. (cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower)

I plant seeds every year. I plant and start them on the porch. Then, about 2-3 weeks later, I plant them. Has worked well for me.

I plant mine every year in those little greenhouses with the expanding peat pods. These are a superior way to start them because you don't stress them as much at transplant. Anyway, I took and old cabinet and modified it to hold my aquarium light. This thing has FIVE T5 HO full spectrum bulbs in it in a timer. I also have heat pads in them. The temperature is controlled with an Inkbird temperature controller set up with an old convection oven fan and a heater. This way, the plants can live in the cabinet with enough light to rival the sun AND be protected from hot and cold.

These will go from seed to 8" plants in absolutely no more than 5 weeks if I transition to aqueous fertilizer when they get true leaves.


All of this and there is no way it is cheaper or easier than buying plants at the store. However, I can get some heirloom varieties if I wish. There is nothing better and more superior than a hybrid tomato but I do like an heirloom or two just for grins.