Garden seeds are the smart way to grow
Whether you have a garden, an allotment, or a few pots on the patio, growing from seed is the smart way to grow.
Nurseries have a limited variety of plants to choose from, but carry a wide selection of seed packets. Ordering garden seeds from online garden centres or catalogues provides a superior range of choice. Dozens of vegetable and herb seeds are available to the home gardener. Every kind of flower, including many unusual varieties, can be grown from seed.
Growing from seed is less expensive.
One package of seeds costs little more than one bedding plant, yet produces rows and rows of plants. Some companies offer “real” seed as opposed to the hybrids usually available in stores. One advantage of the real seed is that it breeds true to type, so you can gather seeds for the next season, saving even more money. Many hybrids are a result of a cross between several varieties. They don’t breed true, so you don’t know what, if anything, will come up the next year. Even when plants do grow, the crops or flowers are often poor. One advantage of hybrids is that they are often very hardy and insect resistant.
Growing seed indoors
Since Britain, especially more northern areas, has a relatively short growing season, many flower and vegetable seeds can be started indoors. A greenhouse or a polytunnel is a good option as well. These can be good investments if you plan on filling the garden each year. Vegetables such as aubergines and vine tomatoes do well started indoors. When the soil warms outside it’s time to transplant them to the garden. There are many starter sets and accessories such as grow-lights available from nurseries and seed companies. Keeping the seed warm and damp is vital to germination.
Growing seed outdoors
Many traditional British cool-weather vegetables such as peas and lettuce can be started outside without a problem. Bush tomatoes can also be planted directly outdoors as they germinate in cool weather. Onions are very versatile, and can be sown in early spring for a summer crop, or mid to late summer for overwintering then ready for spring. Cabbages, another British favourite, are very versatile in the garden. Seed can be planted in late summer/early autumn for a winter crop, early spring for a summer crop, or summer for a winter crop.
Growing flower seeds
Flowers such as alyssum, delphinium and dianthus can be started indoors or under glass for early blooming, or sown outdoors for later blooming. Late-blooming plants such as chrysanthemums can be sown outdoors in March, or sown in autumn for summer blooms. Check the back of the seed package for specific details and instructions for each variety of flower or vegetable you purchase.
An extravagantly beautiful and productive garden can be yours. Save money, enjoy a wider variety of flowers and vegetables, and let your garden be the envy of the neighbourhood. Plant garden seeds.
