tomatos seeds vs plug plants ???

[craig1971]

This year i want to grow some Shirley tomatoes but not sure method is best sowing seeds or buying plug plants from local garden centre ???

[Cadalot]

Sow the seeds, much more satisfying Get one of these and you can grow your own plug plants

[Small pumpkin]

Seeds, seeds, seeds

[Tripmeup]

Seeds, seeds, seeds

By 100.
Why pay for them when so easy to grow?

[Jimmy]

Well I generally use seeds.
But keep my eyes out for Lidl & Aldi offers on plug plants.
Usually around now on they appear.
Jimmy

[Jimmy]

Re
"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives...."
So you don't need to question them, you obviously know the answer.
What is the answer to
Why did the chicken cross the road.
Please inform me !
Thanks
Jimmy

[veggiechicken]

Much as I lurve seeds and wouldn't dream of buying a tomato plant, I'm going to say that it depends on how many Shirley's Craig wants and how confident he is at growing from seed. Also whether he has somewhere to grow the seedlings on until the weather improves.
As ever, I suggest growing some from seed and, if they don't look good there's still time to buy some plants in a month or so. Its all good experience anyway!

[Snoop Puss]

^Yes, agree totally with VC.

The big advantage of growing from seeds, craig, is that you have a much bigger selection of varieties. For the price of a couple of plug plants from a garden centre, you could easily get a couple of packets of seeds and not only have more plants but also different varieties. I'd never be without cherry tomatoes, for example, just for the fact that you start picking earlier.

[Cadalot]

These babies were sown on the 9th March and they are starting to show already

[Jungle Jane]

Can you get Shirley toms from the garden centre,I thought they would’ve sold less fancy ones,I don’t know I never look at the tomato plants,growing from seeds more satisfactory,you’ll feel more personally involved if your babies grow from seeds,like a parent does with their plants

[Snoop Puss]

Craig, just in case you're worried about getting left behind, I haven't sown mine yet.

Edited to add: and just in case you're feeling under pressure, I grow most of mine from seed, but there are two local varieties that I buy as plug plants. I only want one or two of each and as tomato plants are so cheap here (12 pence), it isn't worth buying seeds. My Mum bought some plants from her local garden centre in the UK last year, and to be honest I was a bit shocked at the price when you consider how cheap a packet of seeds is.

[jackarmy]

Wyevale sell shirley plug plants, but they also sell their seeds off at a knockdown price in august, ie 50 p for a pack of ten seeds .
shirley are a fast growing tom so you should be fine sowing them now and still cheaper than the equivelent of plugs.

[chris_m]

These babies were sown on the 9th March and they are starting to show already

Mine went in on the 10th and the first started to pop up today, along with some melons - the cucumbers from the same day put in an appearance yesterday.

[AmateurOne]

Cadalot as a novice can you advise what the name is please?

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Firstly answer to the original OP's question, Would I buy plugs, no I don't think I would, as growing from seed is far easier and cheaper, and gives much more enjoyment in my opinion!

I get VC's earlier comments with regards to buying plants if the seed fail, but more often than not, tomatoes are pretty much reliant on germination, far more than "Chillie's" say

Honestly, you price up a plug plant against a packet of seed, you'll be astounded!