{"id":77,"date":"2018-03-17T02:26:04","date_gmt":"2018-03-17T02:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.everwilde.com\/blog\/?p=77"},"modified":"2018-11-01T23:34:49","modified_gmt":"2018-11-01T23:34:49","slug":"buy-seeds-not-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.everwilde.com\/blog\/buy-seeds-not-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"Buy seeds, Not Plants"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Buy Seeds, Not Plants<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes growing from seed is not just an option\u2014it\u2019s a necessity.
\nThe spectacle of a cilantro plant in a 4-inch pot with the same price tag as a similar sized pot of rosemary or sage is comical \u2026 and not a little objectionable. Tap-rooted plants like cilantro respond to the stress of transplanting by immediately bolting. They can and should be sown directly into the garden soil. This herb is a member of a sizeable but (botanically speaking) mostly unrelated class of edible and ornamental plants that are most successful when planted from seed. This better-from-seed
\nclan is a good one to get to know, especially in these times of shrinking budgets.
\nWhen to choose seeds over plants<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Vegetable Seeds<\/p><\/div>\n

The garden plant industry caters to the masses; seed catalogs and
\nonline seed companies offer a greater range of choices to the
\nadventurous gardener. If you want your garden to stand out from the<\/strong>
\ncrowd, bypass the plant shelf and indulge in the abundant offerings of<\/strong>
\nthe seed rack.<\/strong> The list of vegetables and flowers that are actually easier<\/strong>
\nto grow from seed is a long one.<\/strong> If a flower or herb readily self-sows, it
\nis on the list. If a vegetable has an edible root, tasty leaves, or produces
\npods, it is likely on the list as well.
\nStart with easy-from-seed varieties and you\u2019ll quickly learn that a little
\npack of seeds yields a season of big satisfaction. Dare to experiment.<\/strong>
\nWhether your aim is food, fashion, or fun, a seed-grown garden offers an unbeatable return on investment.
\nBetter-from-Seed Flowers<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Rocket-Larkspur Mix-Wildflower Seeds<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

For a colorful landscape at a minimal expense,<\/strong> purchase a pack or two of each
\nof the following, and sow them when the weather is warm and settled in spring:
\nBachelor\u2019s Buttons<\/strong>:<\/a> full sun to part shade; 1-3 ft tall; pink, blue, white, and
\neven near-black.
\nCleome<\/strong><\/a>: full sun; 3-5 ft tall; pink, white, purple.
\nCosmos<\/strong><\/a>: full sun; 1-6 ft tall; pink, white, dark rose, red, yellow, orange.
\nFour O\u2019Clock<\/strong>:<\/a> full sun to part shade; 2-4 ft tall; pink, magenta, white, yellow,
\nlime green, variegated and broken colors.
\nLarkspur<\/strong><\/a>: full sun; 2-5 ft tall; pink, white, purple, blue.
\nSunflower<\/strong><\/a>: full sun; less than 2 ft to more than 10 ft; yellow, gold, orange, red.
\nAnd a few more: Amaranth<\/a>, Balsam<\/a>, Calendula<\/a>, Morning Glory<\/a>, Nasturtium<\/a>, Zinnia<\/a>.<\/strong>
\nBetter-from-Seed Herbs<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Organic Lime Basil Herb Seed<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Direct-sown herbs yield bunches of seasoning leaves, and many winter hardy herbs come back the next year:
\nArugula<\/strong>:<\/a> Sow seeds in a wide row from spring through early summer, and again in fall. Each row can be cut
\nmultiple times fro a spice\/nutty salad addition.
\nChervil<\/strong><\/a> is one of the few herbs that appreciates a little shade in
\nsummer. Sow fresh seed in moist but well drained soil in early
\nspring or late summer\u2014the lacy leaves grow in abundance when
\nthe nights are cool. Chervil gives a delicate anise flavor to poultry,
\nnew potatoes, baby beans, or just about anything.
\nDill<\/strong> <\/a>is as striking as it is useful. Sow dill seed in full sun, keeping in
\nmind that it tops out at about 3 feet. Plant anytime during the
\ngrowing season; dill thrives in spring and early summer, and
\nsummer\u2013sown seeds will often yield exuberant fall fronds.
\nSummer Savory<\/strong><\/a> is easy to grow yet rarely cultivated. Sow summer
\nsavory in full sun in late spring, keeping the soil evenly moist until
\nthe delicate seedlings can hold their own. By summer\u2019s end, the
\npatch will provide you with more of the narrow thyme-like leaves than you can use. They are a flavorful<\/strong>
\n addition to soups<\/strong> and stews, dips and marinades, vegetables, fish, and many other dishes.
\nAnd a few more: Basil<\/a>, Borage<\/a>, Chives<\/a>, Cilantro<\/a>, Lemon balm<\/a>, Oregano<\/a>, Parsley<\/a>.<\/strong>
\nRoots from Seed<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Scarlet Nantes Carrots<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Root crops are tasty, nutritious,<\/strong> and come in a wide variety of textures and
\nflavors. Start with these for satisfying results:
\nBeet<\/strong><\/a>: Sow successive crops from spring through late summer. They will
\nmature quickly to a harvestable size if seedlings are thinned to about an inch
\napart. Leaves are tasty too.
\nCarrot<\/strong><\/a>: The best thing about growing your own carrots is the satisfaction
\nyou can get from serving not just orange, but red, yellow, and purple roots.
\nSow successive crops and thin to about an inch apart. At the end of the
\nseason, pile straw on your carrot bed and harvest until the ground freezes.
\nRadish<\/strong><\/a>: Like carrots, radishes come in an array of colors. Plant the seeds
\nabout an inch apart as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, and you\u2019ll
\nhave fresh radishes in your salads in a month.
\nTurnip<\/strong><\/a>: If you\u2019ve never grown turnips before, start with one of the<\/strong>
\n Japanese salad types,<\/strong> a quick maturing crop that\u2019s best harvested small\u2014
\nfrom radish to ping-pong-ball size. The tops are every bit as tasty as the
\nsweet roots. Sow seeds in both spring and fall.
\nAnd a few more: Daikon<\/a>, Kohlrabi<\/a>, Parsnip<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Easy Veggies from Seed<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Lincoln Shell Garden Peas<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Seeds are the better option for most vegetables, if for no other reason than you get a lot more for your money!<\/strong>
\nRemember to buy extra seeds for successive sowings.
\nLettuce<\/strong><\/a>: Seeds can be sown thickly for baby greens, or thinned to 8-10 inches apart for heads. The colors and
\ntextures make as beautiful display in the garden or pot as in a salad bowl.
\nMizuna<\/strong><\/a>: and other mustard greens: Grow mustards as you would arugula; being family members they have
\nsimilar needs. Cut small for salads, or large for healthful braising greens.<\/strong>
\nSpinach<\/strong><\/a>: In many regions, spinach is more easily grown in fall than spring. With a blanket of mulch it has
\nbeen known to winter over, even where winters are frigid. Sow seeds in rows and thin to 2-4 inches apart,
\neating the baby leaves. The dark green leaves are renowned for their rich iron and vitamin content<\/strong>\u2014the fresher
\nthe leaves, the higher their nutritional value.
\nAND MANY MORE Vegetables that are EZ from Seed:
\nGreen Beans<\/strong> <\/a>and Edamame soybeans<\/strong>
\nCorn<\/strong><\/a> and Popcorn<\/strong><\/a>
\nCucumbers<\/strong><\/a>
\nSwiss Chard<\/strong><\/a>
\nCabbage<\/a>.<\/strong>
\nLeeks<\/a>.<\/strong>
\nMustards<\/strong><\/a> and Other Leafy Greens.
\nPak choi<\/strong><\/a> and Other Asian Greens
\nMelons<\/strong><\/a> and Watermelons<\/strong><\/a>,
\nPeas<\/strong><\/a>, both sugar and snap peas
\nPumpkins<\/strong> <\/a>and Winter Squash<\/strong><\/a>
\nZucchini<\/strong> a<\/a>nd Other Summer Squash<\/strong><\/a>
\nKale<\/strong><\/a>
\nCollards<\/strong><\/a>
\nTomatillos<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Grateful acknowledgments to the Home Garden Seed Association for this article, used with special permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Buy Seeds, Not Plants Sometimes growing from seed is not just an option\u2014it\u2019s a necessity. The spectacle of a cilantro plant in a 4-inch pot with the … <\/p>\n

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