Growing Mojo?

[Chestnut]

I absolutely agree.
Whilst I can understand that some people will want the challenge of doing something from scratch every time, in my view there is a lot to be said for letting other people do some of it!
I buy ready sliced bread, jus-rol pastry, factory made biscuits, pre-plucked chickens, off the peg clothes, soft furnishings and furniture. I could make them all from scratch, but it would take ages and End results wouldn’t be anywhere near as reliable as shop-bought, particularly where puff pastry is concerned

buying in some young plants for growing on, at £99 is probably much cheaper than a weekly veg box too

[Lumpy]

Thank you all for your commenrs - as usual your support is worth its weight in gold.

I do feel like its cheating though - but thats my issue not any one elses.

[Nannysally99]

it's not cheating Lumps, I too succomed to a few bought plants last year.
Flowers are always bought as plug plants.
I like the idea that we are nurturing them along

[Baldy]

It is cheating I'm afraid Lumpers...

[Lumpy]

It is cheating I'm afraid Lumpers...

Is it Balders? I've already decided that there will be no entries from me, even in the failure category for the Virtual Show next year. I'm sorry you think that.

[lottie dolly]

IT is NOT cheating so ,plus i for 1 WILL expect you to enter next year,it is imaterial how you achieve a growing plant,but how you nuture it every time,

[veggiechicken]

It is cheating I'm afraid Lumpers...

Is it Balders? I've already decided that there will be no entries from me, even in the failure category for the Virtual Show next year. I'm sorry you think that.

Ignore Baldy, he's just a stirrer. He probably buys bunches of carrots from the shop, plants them then stands there saying "Look everyone, come and see my super carrots!

I don't think its cheating at all, its a pragmatic and, dare I say it, "sensible" way of dealing with your circumstances.
After all, I've just ordered 8 ready planted hanging baskets to brighten the garden over winter. I could have sown seed months ago, bought compost and hanging baskets, but sometimes, Life's too short to faff over such things.
Ignore the naysayers, they're just jealous

[burnie]

I consider myself a gardener, who produces stuff, often edible and occasionally disappointing, but I use methods of my choosing. Usually of an organic method, though I do not have a certificate for the soil/compost/manure, I just avoid chemicals apart from the odd squirt on my apple trees to curb the scab.
Mostly I grow from seed, always have as I ENJOY DOING IT, not because it's "proper" or because it's cheaper, but because I choose to. Sometimes I choose to buy plants from a GC, or on occasion a nursery(although the nursery are not very good at selling stuff that's not full of weeds), it depends on me having the time or the inclination or the available funds.
How the produce is "produced" is purely for the person doing the growing, sure we each get personal satisfaction in different ways from our gardens. I have the " if it's not edible why grow it" Huge Fearlessly Eatsitall" type of approach, whereas SWMBO, likes some fluers as well.

[Baldy]

Is it Balders? I've already decided that there will be no entries from me, even in the failure category for the Virtual Show next year. I'm sorry you think that.

as VC says - 'ignore me' ...
quite how she knows about my carrot growing 'technique' I don't know...

[Lumpy]

as VC says - 'ignore me' ...
quite how she knows about my carrot growing 'technique' I don't know...

How could I ever ignore you Balders. To a point I agree with you.
I used to grow from seed, not always successful (in most cases downright appalling) but like many Grapes on here find myself in a situation I wish I wasn't but am.
If, I get no joy from my bought in plants I shall quit completely.

Any method that suits the individuals needs is good in my book and I am glad that there has been a good response to my thread as nobody knows what others are doing.

[Baldy]

I was joshing you Lumpers - as is my way - I think I like the germination process more than anything else really, so I do grow from seed 90% of the time - but this year I did buy some leek plants so who am I to cast aspersions?
I tease other plotholders about this - they then usually tease me back when we compare crop sizes at the end of the season.
So, do what works for you - ignore me (its usually for the best).

[Lumpy]

Ta Balders - I edited my post. x

[KevinM67]

After spending the Winter doing DIY jobs, soil prep, etc - come Spring time I can't wait to start sowing seeds. Like Baldy, it's probably my favourite time - especially when the seedlings start popping up.

However, during the main growing season I get consumed by the various tasks needed to keep on top of things that I neglect to sow things for successional plants/winter and next spring.

[Lumpy]

I see that there are positives and negatives in buying in your baby plants.

Positives -
No window ledges or greenhouse required (Ta VC)
Viable sized plants that have been hardened off for me
Delivered in recycled cardboard box = mulch and the straw that define the layers inside great for clamping carrots or strawbs etc.
With only the bus to rely on delivery to the door a bonus.

Negatives -
I can't have the varieties I might want.
I can't grow the veggies I might want.
They have to survive the courier system.
Not all suitable for small spaces e.g black kale as it can get quite tall.
Expensive compared to buying the seeds and starting everything off from there.

[Jungle Jane]

I bought twenty geranium plug plants this year because it worked out cheaper than buying seeds,although they did need potting on & protecting in the early days,you won't have to do all that. You've improved things for yourself so we're all happy for you & if you look at it as £8 a month it's a bargain