Sowing direct vs. indoor sowing & transplanting

[gorgeousgrower]

I try each year to hold out and sow suitable veg direct at the allotment instead of sowing at home and transplanting - needless to say, when early spring comes around I get itchy fingers and can't wait any longer!!! In goes everything at home. I sometimes regret doing this due to the time needed to look after the seedlings at home, pot on and later transplant. Next year may be even harder work as I want to incorporate some cut flower beds at the lottie which will contain alot of annuals - again easier to sow direct but will I be able to resist the urge

I'm wondering what you all do regarding your beans, brassicas, peas, courgettes, sweetcorn, leeks and annual flowers

Is there anything in particular which you won't sow direct because you've experienced problems in the past.

Do you find it easier to have your seedlings at home and keep a close eye on them?

The things that concern me with having lots of seedlings at the lottie are: slug damage, bird damage, late frosts, wind damage in spring, the need to make frequent visits to check on them - should I be concerned? Do you find any of these a problem?

Looking forward to hearing from you all
Thanks

[zazen999]

I only sow 2 things direct; carrots and parsnips.

This year, due to a problem manure, I've sown some dwarf beans direct [last weekend, as the onions came out and the soil is clean and can't be wasted]; because I just need as many growing as possible. But apart from that, everything is sown in modules and transplanted.

However I do let things go to seed for seed saving, and this year I haven't sown parsnips at all as I am hoping that I get some from the fresh seed that is currently on my flowers....I will probably just sow a handful of the fresh seed tomorrow direct, and hope for the best.

[peanut]

I garden at home and start almost everything off in modules, this way i can keep a close eye on them making sure they get the best start without all pests trying to eat them! The only exceptions this year have been carrots and beetroots.

I keep potting on all my Brassicas and have them covered with a fine net curtain until i have clear ground for them to go in.

Sweetcorn, i've found can struggle if it gets too rootbound in pots.....I left mine for too long last year and it grew all stumpy and stunted! No problem this year, got it planted out in good time.

[selfraising]

Apart from parsnips, I grow everything in modules and then transplant. This is partly because I have limited space so can hang on to them until the space is ready and partly because they are a bit more sturdy, have formed a good root system and are less appealing to slugs when planted.
I have also sown annual flowers in modules this year so that I can choose where to put them.

[Caro]

I find my peas and beans are just fine sown direct. In fact, I sow almost everything direct, except courgettes and squashes. Maybe I'm just lazy? I perhaps will try sowing in modules next year, as I suspect my veggies are behind many others, but it was such a cold winter and I have an unheated greenhouse, so I didn't want to start too early.

[oldie]

I start parsnips and sweet corn in loo rolls. Beans, brassica, courgettes and pumpkins in root trainers and everything else direct.

[cupcake]

I'm a module girl too. The only things I've sown direct this year are carrots, rocket, chervil .,parsley and coriander, tho I've done coriander inside too.

[Alison]

Direct sow parsnips, carrots, beetroot, turnips, swede, spring onions, rocket, mixed cut and come again lettuce and radish. Also, from late April onwards direct sow peas and mange tout. Everything else is sown in modules of some sort. All beans and sweetcorn are in root trainers, peas and mange tout in guttering, all leafy brassicas, celeriac, chard, heading lettuce, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, peppers, chillies, melons etc in modules and leeks and seed onions in pots. Usually direct sow garlic, shallots and onion sets but sometimes start them in pots if the weather is bad.