Plot layout

[Kristen]

Everything else I start in March in the gh ... It takes more time & effort than direct sowing, but gives better results in the end

I do the same, and refer to it as "maximum faff" but I only say that to stop other people saying it back at me! I actually think it is less work:

To sow outside requires making a seedbed and sowing the seed. The seed then starts off at exactly the same time as the weeds - the weeds, by definition!, will germinate more quickly and grow faster, so there is then some painstaking hand weeding needed.

Thus, in practice, I'm not sure it actually takes more time & effort.

I then count the upsides of raising in the greenhouse and planting out:

• I can sow seeds in the evening, after dark, after work, any day of the week I like - I don't have to wait for good weather.
• I can plant out within a reasonable window - the plants will "hold" in their containers for 2 or 3 weeks [beyond my intended planting time] before getting desperate
• I grow exactly the number I want and plant out with no gaps etc. so no issue with thinning and potentially having gaps and so on.

Maybe folk that sow-direct would take issue with me though?

One slightly negative point! Last year I grew some Amaranthus [in my ornamental garden], sown early, raised in the greenhouse to nice plants in 9cm pots, planted out towards end of May ... they grew, flowered and looked nice.

This year they have grown from self-seed, were well into June before they made much of an appearance ... and are MASSIVE compared to last year's plants

So I am now starting to doubt whether transplanted is as good as sown-in-situ ...

[Two_Sheds]

I am now starting to doubt whether transplanted is as good as sown-in-situ ...

Yeah, if the conditions you give them are particularly suited to a particular plant, they'll def. grow better from self-sown. Sunflowers & cornflowers, I've given up planting under glass because they do better on their own ~ I just transplant them if I want to move them around

[Alison]

Yeah, if the conditions you give them are particularly suited to a particular plant, they'll def. grow better from self-sown. Sunflowers & cornflowers, I've given up planting under glass because they do better on their own ~ I just transplant them if I want to move them around

The lady on the plot opposite me has some beautiful sunflowers all down one side of the plot. She told me last week that they're all transplanted from self seeded ones. Look really cheery and I'm hoping mine do the same next year