How many 'extras' do you start?

15 years ago

This is only my 3rd year growing inside from seed. The first year it was mostly annuals and a few perennials. I did a lousy job, but somehow most of them worked. Last year I added peppers and cukes and had dozens of seedlings. The flowers are easy for me to find places for no matter how many I have, but last year I ended up sticking extra cucumber plants in the weirdest places (like the Dahlia bed) and peppers in with the lilies.

This year I am trying lots more vegetables. I have invested the time space and money in a better light set up and will expand the veg garden. I am excited to get started. However..........Last year the three tomato plants I grew (purchased in 4 in. pots) supplied plenty of tomatoes for the two of us here. This year I have seeds for 4 different kinds ! I dont really want to grow more than 10 or 12 tomato plants (2-3 of each).

So the question is - how many seeds would you start? Twice as many as needed? - three times as many? I guess I can give away seedlings, but I only have so much room under the lights.

Any advice?

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Comments (3)

wordwiz
15 years ago
I always start way more than I need then select the best seedlings to transplant.

Mike
luvahydrangea
15 years ago
I germinate a lot of extras, we're a small family too (just 3 of us) and I live in a city so have VERY little room. Like you, I sometimes sneak some into my flower garden. :) I also give away a lot. I would say I probably start around 3x what I need. If I have a yard sale in May, which I usually do, I set my daughter up with a table and sell some off.

If you have the room to grow a nice sized garden, you can always donate the extras to a food pantry or shelter. Or you can learn to do some canning. My neighbor makes the best jams and sauces from all her extras. She gives me some for gifts, and I always love it when she does! :)
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cetompkins
15 years ago
I myself am on my third year of starting from seed and in the past have started double what I thought I needed, this year for some reason I decided to share with friends and family and have quadrupled my seed starts and am almost overwhelmed with the amounts of plants that I have space for, that being said if your planting for just yourself double the amount and share the rest you will have plenty and will make others very happy that do not have as green a thumb as you.