So, you have a variety of different garden seeds and are ready to get your garden going! But how should you start your seeds? Should you go all in and direct sow those seeds in the ground, or take a more cautious approach and start them indoors? Let's discuss!
Direct Sow: The Wild Child Approach
Direct sowing is probably what you imagine when you think of sowing seeds: just going straight to the outdoors, and sowing the seeds directly into the ground and let nature take its course.
Indoor Planting: The Helicopter Parent Approach
Indoor planting, on the other hand, is much more meticulous. You carefully plant them in containers indoors, providing the perfect environment for them to germinate and grow before transplanting them outside. It's like giving your seeds the VIP treatment.
When to Choose Each Method
So, when should you direct sow and when should you opt for indoor planting? It all depends on the plant, your climate, and your gardening style.
Benefits of Direct sowing: it can be a time-saver and is great for plants that don't like to be transplanted. Plus, it's a thrill to watch those little seeds sprout up from the ground like magic. There's something special about letting nature do its thing! Plus, if you live in a mild climate with a long growing season, direct sowing can be a breeze.
So what plants should you direct sow? Plants that tend to thrive in colder weather, like root vegetables(like carrots or radishes) or leafy greens(kale, lettuce, spinach), usually have root systems that don't like to be disturbed and therefore perform best being direct sown.
Benefits on indoor planting: it gives you more control over the growing conditions, which can be especially helpful for finicky plants or if you have a short growing season(if you have longer winters, indoor planting is your best friend!). Plus, getting to nurture those little seeds and seedlings is such a fun experience.
Seeds that thrive with indoor planting: seeds that need a longer growing season, like tomatoes or peppers. As a rule of thumb, these tend to be seeds that prefer warmer weather.
Hopefully this sheds some light on what planting method you should use for your garden. What method do you prefer? Let us know in the comments!
