Why not grow from seed?
Seeds are affordable - $3 will buy you a packet of seeds of your chosen vegetable or herb with enough produce to last you the entire season (and more). The only time I would start with seedlings, is if I have left it late in the season and need to get a head start. That is not now. You still have time to plant from seed.
If you are worried about the time, the effort or not knowing enough - don’t!
It’s no more effort or challenge than transplanting seedlings. With seedlings you’ll have your spacing sorted but transplant shock could also mean a few losses. Thinning out your new plants can be really challenging (if you want to keep them all) but I’d rather thin out than head back down to the nursery to buy more seedlings, wouldn’t you?
When paying somewhere between $4 - $9 for six seedlings, if you do the math, it is worth giving growing from seed a go.
Most vegetable and herb seeds will germinate within 7 – 14 days. It is very rewarding when you see the first sight of “green” popping out of the ground, knowing that this little sight of life will feed you before long - and that you did it yourself!
Without your love and attention, it would not have got this far - you also have the knowledge that your produce is chemical free and that the abundance you collect, can be shared with family, friends or even strangers.
Alternatively, you can venture out into a new interest – preserves, jams, drying or share the love of food through meals to share which is my favourite way to share my home grown vegies and herbs.
What you need to know about growing from seed:
The most import thing is water but that goes for seedlings as well - you must ensure that your soil remains moist - it must never dry out.
On the flip side, moist does not mean “sodden” (I hesitated to write that after the Whitsunday May downfall), if recent rains have seen your vegie patch get off to a sad start, get seeds and throw them in your vegie garden and do a sun dance – just make sure no one is watching!
Fun fact:
Radish is one of the fastest growing vegetables taking only 3 -4 weeks to reach harvest time when growing in the right conditions
