There's never been a better time to make a virtue of necessity! Economize on the garden this year by choosing seeds instead of plants whenever possible, and you'll save an astonishing amount of money. What's more, you'll be able to grow the varieties you choose, not just what the local big box store happens to be carrying. And you may find a truly unexpected benefit.
For many people, starting from seed is the most rewarding part of gardening. It may be an everyday miracle, but to us there are few spectacles in life to compare with seeing those first green shoots emerge from the soil, tending them with care, and watching them grow into large, healthy plants — all within a few months!
1. Direct-Sow Whatever You Can
Direct-sowing (which means planting the seeds right into the garden soil outdoors, instead of into seed flats or your Bio Dome indoors) is the easiest and least expensive way to start seeds. You need absolutely no equipment except a garden fork or trowel to break up the soil before planting time. And once you've gotten your seeds in the soil, Mother Nature takes over! Understand that by planting the seeds outdoors, you are inevitably going to lose some to hungry birds, strong rains, and other natural factors. There's a reason that this old farmer's jingle about planting seeds was passed down through the generations:
One for the blackbird,
One for the crow,
One for the soil,
And one to grow.
Of course you don't really have to plant 4 seeds for every one plant you want to grow, but expect that not every seed will sprout. Many people plant 2 seeds per hole, or space the seeds much closer together. If the seedlings come in right next to each other, you can always thin them later.
Here are some never-fail plants to direct-sow in spring: Flowers:
Coleus | Cornflower | Cosmos | Gaillardia |
Geraniums | Impatiens | Marigold | Morning Glory |
Nasturtium | Petunias | Poppies | Rudbeckia |
Salvia | Snapdragon | Sunflowers | Zineia |
Vegetables:
Beans | Carrot | Cucumber | Lettuce |
melon | Squash | Tomato |
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2. Make the Most of Winter Indoors
Almost every gardener who begins seeds indoors in late winter is a tomato grower, and many of us plan our whole seed-starting experience with the tomato seed. You may also try Geraniums, Impatiens, Petunias — if we are starting it from seed, it is best to sow in flat trays 5 to 7 weeks before the last anticipated frost, because that is when tomato seeds go in. Some types of seeds take longer to germinate than others. Some seedlings need more time to reach transplant size, or require higher temperatures before they can go outdoors.
3. Choose Seeds that Make More Seeds or Grow a Bulb
All most every plant produces seeds, and if you leave the last flowers on the plant and let them dry out (or "go to seed"), they will scatter their progeny all over the garden floor. But many of today's varieties do not "come true" from seed — that is, the baby plants will not look like the parents. So you will want to select varieties that are advertised as "reseeding" or "self-sowing" themselves. (A similar trait to look for in plant descriptions is "naturalizing," which means that the plant will multiply underground over time, increasing into large drifts from just a few plants.)
Some seed varieties also grow a bulb during their spring-through-fall growing season, and these can be very valuable for gardeners who live north of their hardiness range. For instance, Dahlia are hardy only in warmer areas — they don't like frost, and gardeners in north grow them as annuals. But every seedling you plant will grow a nice little tuber, so that when you dig the plant up in fall (before first frost, please!), you can simply trim away the stems and store the tuber in a dark, dry place for winter. Plant it out again after the last spring frost, and it will give you another season of beautiful blooms!
4. Try Some Perennials, Shrubs, and Even Trees from Seed
We are used to starting vegetables and annual flowers from seed, but nearly all types of plants are available in seed form. And while perennials, shrubs, and trees might take a bit longer to grow up than they would if purchased as plants, they ae usually no more difficult to start than any other seed, and very rewarding!
Have fun this season experimenting with a few long-lived plants from seeds. All are easy to grow and so dependable in the garden! | 
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