Direct Sow Verses Transplanting

Articles→Plants→Edibles→Vegetables

By NGA Editors, March 10, 2022

Direct Sowing: 

What is direct sowing? Direct sowing (or “in situ”) simply means the seeds are placed in the soil and the plant continues to grow where it was planted. Many seeds can be started directly in the garden and some plants don’t do well being transplanted. Before you sow your seeds, check the Vegetable Planting Calendar for a detailed report on the best time to sow seeds and transplant them in your garden in your area. Another helpful resource is your seed packet to determine the proper depth to plant your seed and the ideal spacing between each seed. 

Which seeds are best for direct sowing?

Root Crops like Carrots, Beets, Radishes and Turnips don’t like their delicate root systems disturbed and will likely die from transplanting. These vegetables are not difficult to grow when started by seed directly in the soil. They are perfect for direct sowing as well as succession planting throughout the growing season. 

Beans, southern peas, cucumbers, melons, corn, and all  types of squash will grow quickly from seed when the soil warms up in the spring. Other varieties of peas, such as the Sugar Snap pea, grow in the cooler temperatures and are ideally planted in situ for early spring and fall crops. 

Care Tips for Directly Sowing Seeds:

1. Make sure you plant your seeds with enough space to allow them to grow properly. If you over-seed purposefully or unintentionally, be prepared to carefully thin your seedlings. 
2. Start with soil that is moist when you plant your seeds.
   
3. Keep the seedlings moist and weed-free while waiting for them to sprout and get established.
   

Transplanting: 

Starting with young seedling plants will give you more reliable results and more control in your garden, as well as the happy benefit of getting a jump-start on the growing season. Whether you start the seeds yourself weeks before, or purchase your plants from elsewhere, avoid stressing the plants by hardening them off before planting them in their permanent location.  Vegetables that are best to transplant are those that grow slowly, or do not prefer cool soil. By starting their outdoor life as seedlings, you increase the time they have available to give a good harvest either before the frost strikes, or the heat sets in, depending on the vegetable. 

Some veggies best suited to  transplant:

Brassicas: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Kale, and Chard are prime candidates for transplanting. Because they are tolerant of frost, they can be transplanted out 2-3 weeks before your last frost date for an early spring crop. 

Tomatoes, eggplant and peppers are also great for starting indoors to take advantage of the extra head start during the spring. 

Lettuce, spinach, and many herbs benefit from starting in trays due to their slow growing time. Having extra time being pampered while getting established means a heartier plant in the long run. 

Onions- If you are growing onions from seed instead of buying sets, start seeds early and transplant out your young seedlings.

Care tips after Transplanting:

1. Keep soil moist- don't let your plants dry out while getting established. 
2. Protect the plant from sunlight- overcast days are best to plant your seedlings. If that's not possible, try protecting the plants with a shade cloth or floating row cover for a few days. 
3. Keep an eye on the temperatures- watch out for super hot weather, or an unseasonable frost, both of which can kill tender seedlings.