Seeds are cheaper. There are far more types available by seed than by plants. You can have plants available when you want them rather than when the garden center has them. As far as transplants, they have some benefits as well.

It depends on what I'm planting. Peppers, and tomatos, I usually buy a plant. Don't really know why, execpt that they are available and cheap (go to a farmer's market or feed store). Others I do from seed. Mainly because it is cheaper and I like to see the whole process. It is amazing to me how a small seed can grow into a food bearing plant in such a short time. I like to see them germinate.

I usually buy my tomato and pepper plants, but I'm lucky to live within driving distance of some really neat nurseries that carry some unusual varieties. Plus, I'm only buying 5 or 6 plants a year so it's pretty cheap. If I had room to grow a dozen or more plants, I'd probably start my own seeds more often.

I always start my own melon, cucumber, lettuce and brassica seeds, though. I've seen lettuce seedlings selling for a dollar a piece some places. For that, I'd buy a head of lettuce at the store and not go through the trouble of dealing with aphids!

I don't have great luck with seeds, but every year I try. And the reason is , is that there are so many varieties. You can only plant so many Bonnies and Hybirds. If you get seeds from Seed Savers or Baker Creek you can choose from so many tomatoes for example! You will RARELY find a black tomato at Home Depot. But some place in Houston where I live near, has really unsual transplants, Another Place In Time, Buchanans, Arbor Gate, Wabash. So I always get things there. I am a bit anal...I keep a "tomato book". It has listings of tons of tomatoes and their features. I also list what grew well for me, what did not. So I carry this with me when I go shopping.

yummykaz,

Ide be interested in hearing what tomatoes you've had luck with. Im a few hours north of you and want to try some new varieties today in addition to the good ol better boy, big boys..etc.

Thanks.

I live about 1.5 hours north of Austin. I learned how to grow great transplants from Dr. Sam Cotner, TAM. I use a soil cuber, soiless soil and cheap over head lites from wally world. Take a plastic storage bin, (big one) and line it with foil, bottom and sides (shiny side out), 2 layers of newspaper in bottom. Make your soil cubes. Sharpen a pencil and wet the lead, pick up seed with this and softly put the seed on the damp cube and pinch top of cube, be easy! When you have gotten all you seeds you want to germinate in the cubes then mist well with warm water and cover the platic bin with plastic kitchen wrap. Tape the plastic wrap to the sides of the bin making this almost air tight!Get a second had or cheap heating pad and place the bin on this, turning on low. Hang your cheap overhead light over the bin about 6 inches from the top and leave the lights on for atleast 12-16 hours a day. When about half have sprouted take off the plastic wrap(save for next year). Continue to give the seedlings 12-16 hrs. of overhead light. This does require a few initial investments BUT they are re-usable yr to yr. WHen the seedlings have one set of true leaves transplant to cups. This has NEVER failed to sprout every seed I plant and I have shared this with many. Let me know if you have Qs!! ps. here in TX. all we really need to start from seeds in tomatoes and peppers. Everything else grows faster and needs warm soil.

Green thumb: Silvery Fir Tree, Carmello,Dona,Taxi ( a great yellow Tomato), Black from Tula, Black Seaman, Sugary is the best cherry/grape, Matts Wild for a small cherry, Grandpa Marys, a Roma type, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine,Arkansas Traveler, Bloody Butcher, Juanne Flame. My favorite if I can find is JD's Early Texas Black. I LOVE black/purple tomatoes! If you can drive to Arbor Gate when they get their Guenter Heirlooms in, it is worth the drive! These are actual transplants.But I buy seeds from Baker Creek Heirlooms and Seed Savers Exchange. I also get some of Renne's Garden and Seeds of Change at Smith and Hawkin store in the Woodlands

Nip..thanks for the great info! I have my heated seed mat going now....and I have another suggesttion for heat mat...sometimes at thrift stores they have old warming trays..these work great too!

I'm trying Cherokee Purple and Black from Tula. I wish I had room for many tomato plants but I can only afford space for about 5 or 6. I absolutely love starting anything from seed, and this is my first year doing tomatoes. (My entire herb garden is from seed now.)... It's less about being inexpensive than it is about the love of watching a plant grow through its entire process. I can also get some good varieties by transplants and I might try one to see which do better--theirs or mine.

Now I have a question for experienced growers--do seed mats really make a difference? I've never used them. Things seem to germinate just fine in my house. (Or maybe they are important if you are using a greenhouse where it's colder.)

And another question--if you start your tomatoes late are there any tricks to get them to 'catch up'? Seems like some people plant them out early and protect them to help them get established faster. Does that help?

asking probably too many questions for this thread?

I use a seed mat to ensure each seed germinates. I do this in my house. If you start tomatoes late then just get the variety that requires fewer days till harvest,say 50 and not 78. If you plant early, mid and late varieties then you get a summer full of tomatoes. Yes it does help to protect them when you plant early. Weather is always strange in Texas.

I need classes on how to start seeds and how to propagate from cuttings. I buy plants, for tomatoes and peppers.

I've had luck with Brandywine, of all things. Quite tall, healthy and prolific. Also Healthkick (I think) and anything with HEAT or HOT or SUN or FIRE in the name (tomatoes, I mean). I had luck with lots of compost, spraying with kaolin clay (bug protection) and anti-fungal.

If you follow the advice in our posts you will be successful! Also try looking for this thread. It seems like a great idea!
Byron's World Famous Tea Recipe For Starting Seeds (Entire Thread)

SEEDS DEFINETLY SEEDS unless you find dying plants in store and take em home and nurse them<3