Where to Start - Seedlings, Seeds, or Established Plants?

When starting your own edible garden - should you choose seeds, seedlings or larger potted plants?

Here’s the advantages and considerations for each option, so you can make an informed choice.

Versatility and Variety with Seeds

Growing from seeds gives you a bigger range of varieties to choose from - including many of the beautiful heirlooms. Seeds are a cheap and convenient way to start a vegetable, herb, or flower garden - all you need is a bit of patience. Root crop seeds should be sown directly where you want them to continue growing as disturbing their roots can cause plant stress and an oddly misshapen harvest! Root crops to sow directly include carrots, radishes, parsnips and beetroot. Non-root crops can either be sown directly or most people choose to start seeds in punnets or small pots so they can nurture them more closely as they germinate and grow into seedlings before transplanting them into the garden.

Growing from seeds also gives you control over the entire growing process - so you can grow organically and use sustainable practices.

Speedy Results with Seedlings

Seedlings are young plants, often sold in punnets or small pots that are ready for you to plant into your own garden. Seedlings are a quick way to establish an edible garden, giving you a head start on growing from seeds. Ideal crops to grow from seedlings include tomatoes, capsicums, broccoli, and soft leaf herbs. Remember - if there’s more than 1 seedling in the punnet or pot you’ll need to gently divide the seedlings up and space them out according to the labels instructions before planting them into your garden.

Potted Plants for Instant Impact

If you're after immediate impact in your garden, larger potted plants are the way to go. They're grown on at production and are ready-to-plant into your garden. Their larger size gives you an instant visual impact and quickly fills in your garden. You’ll find larger potted plants of crops including berry bushes, fruit trees and perennial herbs - all of which take longer to grow from seeds or seedlings.

So which option is right for your garden? Keep these considerations in mind:

• Time: assess your timeline and availability. If you're short on time or have a later start to the growing season, seedlings or potted plants can give you a head start. 
• Expertise: evaluate your gardening experience. Starting from seeds needs more attention and care, better suited for experienced gardeners or those keen to experiment. If you’re a beginner, we recommend startings with seedlings or established plants.
• Cost: what’s your budget? Seed packets are usually the most cost-effective option, while larger potted plants can be a higher initial investment.
• Availability: consider the availability of seeds, seedlings, or potted plants for the edible plants you want to grow. You’ll find them all available at your local nurseries, garden centres, farmers’ markets and even from online

Deciding whether to start your edible garden from, seeds, seedlings or larger potted plants depends on your preferences, time constraints, gardening experience, and goals. Seedlings offer a head start and succession planting of them can extend your growing season easily, seeds provide versatility and variety for those with patience and knowledge, and larger potted plants give you instant impact.

Our advice is to consider the specific needs of the edible plants you'd like to grow and choose the option that aligns best with your gardening goals. Perhaps you’ll use a combination of all 3 options as you grow your edible garden! Whichever you choose, growing your own food will always be a rewarding (and tasty) experience.