Should I sow seeds or plant seedlings in raised beds?

[Maggymay]

Is it best to sow seeds or seedlings into my raised beds? I bought both and have mixed results

[EricL]

Hello @Maggymay 

Thanks for sharing your question about whether to use seeds or seedlings. I personally use seeds when growing my tomato plants. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction, and I have total control over what goes in the soil to help them grow. If you have the time to grow seeds to seedlings then this would be my recommendation. But if you wish to have a head start then using seedlings is the way to go. This method of course is much faster as no waiting is involved.

Let me call on our experienced members @Noelle, @mich1972 and @Prof for their recommendations.    

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Noelle]

Hi @Maggymay 

I'd probably start by sowing seeds into trays or small pots on a veranda or similar sheltered spot, then transfer the seedlings to the raised beds when they are large enough to handle and strong enough to tolerate being grown out in the open. I've had better results that way. 

Of course, it depends on where you live! In warmer climates direct sowing is usually very successful while in the cooler southern States, transplanting seedlings (either your own or commercially raised) may give better results.

[Prof · Accepted solution]

Hi Maggymay...

I've always germinated seeds for all my hydroponic vegetables..

However..the end result is not always good..I've had several losses of cucumber plants which can only put down to bad seeds.!!

The last disaster that I had was the seeds were designated as Parthenocarpic..which means they are self pollinating..

The end result was that I had all male flowers..no female flowers..hence no fruit..All that time from germination to flowering wasted.!!

I also have had very little success with capsicum plants..

You could say that I've just had a bad supplier of seeds..except I've bought seeds from five different suppliers..!!

The positive benefit of buying seedlings is that you can see how good or bad the plants is.

Personally..I will be buying seedlings from now on..

I hope that helps you...