Seeds of Challenge

Mary Washington Asparagus under the lights.

One of the things I love about starting plants from seed is that there are so many surprises.  I don't know what I expected from the asparagus, but it's shocked me:  it's nearly two inches tall!  It's appearance is even more fun--it looks like tiny asparagus spears!

Black Truffle tomato sprouts enjoy the last rays of the day!

My garage nursery (see Well Begun is Half Done) is burgeoning, and even moving outside on warm days.

The Currant, Mortgage Lifter, and Black Truffle tomatoes are sprouting, as well as one or two Italian Tree tomatoes.  One Creole is peeking out of the soil and the Florida Pinks, Romas, Crnkovic Yugoslavians, and Cherokee Purples have not sprouted yet.

Varieties are labeled by the six-pack in trays.

My most successful vegetable last year was hot peppers (see "This Garden is Hot!") and, this year, I'm expanding the quantities and varieties.  Returning to the garden will be cayenne, jalapeno, and habanero peppers.

New pepper varieties this year are Jimmy Nardello, Marconi Rosso, Tennessee Cheese, Chinese Giant, poblano, Greek pepperoncini, Italian pepperoncini, Serrano Tampiqueno, Anaheim, cubanelle, and tabasco.  If I remember correctly from last year, peppers are a bit slow to germinate, so I'm not expecting any sprouts for another week or two.

I've also started a few flowers:  Texas bluebonnets, and some seeds I bought at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello:  Formosa Lily, Butterfly Weed (asclepias), and Joseph's Coat Amaranthus.

For the kitchen, I've put in a few of our favorite herbs:  broadleaf sage, cilantro, oregano, sweet basil, genovese basil, rosemary, and tarragon.

So, whew!  That's a lot of tiny seeds!

The days have become warm enough so
the seed trays are loaded onto a rolling
cart and wheeled outside.  They will come back
inside at night, or during a hard rain.

My father-in-law, who has a wonderful garden every year, asked me why I bothered with seed instead of buying plants.

It's a fair question; it's a question I hadn't really considered much.  

Why do I choose to grow from seed?

Part of it has to do with enjoying the challenge.  I know, shouldn't I find fending off the insects and animals, as well as Mother Nature, challenging enough?  I suppose I should, but, for some reason, I want to grow my garden from seed.  It seems more like mine when I grow from seed rather than purchasing plants.

Another reason I grow from seed is the expense.  For me, it's just plain cheaper, even adding in the cost of potting soil.  This allows me to grow extra plants which are shared with neighbors and coworkers.

A third reason I grow from seed is that I know how the plants have been grown.  I know every chemical that's been applied because I have applied them.  I try to be as organic as I can without losing the crop, so I minimize chemical application.  This is important to me.

Another reason I start from seed is my soil.  My beloved (NOT) buckshot holds the water forever.  I cannot actually plant much until after Memorial Day.  By that time, the good nursery stock has been really picked over.  I can plant the seed any time I choose to be ready to plant when I need it, not when it shows up in the store.

The final reason I grow from seed is in the list above:  the variety.  While the availability of organic and heirloom varieties of plants is increasing, I would still be limited to what is available.  Non-conformist that I am, that is just not acceptable.  I am also in search of the perfect varieties for my self-declared micro-climate (see My Declaration of Agricultural Independence) which, seemingly, does not include the usual suspects.  One of my goals is to grow enough feed my family and to sell at the farmer's market.  Everybody grows the usual varieties, so, by choosing unique or heirloom varieties, I'm aiming for a niche market.

So, to answer my father-in-law's question, I grow from seed for lots of reasons.  It's just my way.

What about you?  Seed or nursery stock?