Question and Answer: "Is it better to sow seeds directly into the soil or grow them in trays first and then transplant?"
Posted: 15th March 2025
Well, the answer, like many things in gardening is: it depends! 🤔 Both methods have their advantages, and the best choice comes down to the type of plant, growing conditions, and your gardening goals.
In general, the easier a plant is to grow, the more likely direct sowing will be a suitable option.
🌱 Direct Sowing (Planting Seeds Straight into the Soil)
Direct sowing means planting seeds directly into cultivated soil or broadcasting them onto the surface. This method is best when seeds are plentiful, easy to germinate, and the plant is robust or dislikes root disturbance.
✔️ Best for: Root crops (carrots, radishes), wildflowers, and easy-to-germinate annuals or short-lived perennials.
✔️ Pros: Stronger root systems in relation to plant size, no transplant shock.
❌ Cons: Slower germination, vulnerable to weather and pests, requires more weeding.
For example, carrots are easy to germinate, don’t like disturbance, and can be thinned out later. That’s why they are sown directly into well-cultivated soil in rows. Sowing in rows also makes it easier to distinguish plants from weeds and allows for more efficient hoeing.
Similarly, wildflowers germinate easily and are quite robust. Sowing them directly into open ground (or onto grassland) allows the root system to develop before the top growth, making the seedlings more drought-resistant. However, germination rates may be lower compared to seeds sown in compost, as they will only sprout when conditions are right. Additionally, they must compete with weeds, which are often stronger growers.
🪴 Planting from Trays (Transplanting Small, Developed Plants)
This method involves sowing seeds into seed trays, then transplanting them into pots or directly into the garden once they are strong enough and the weather is suitable.
✔️ Best for: Tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, lettuce), flowers needing early protection, or seeds that are difficult to germinate. Also ideal for formal bedding designs or if you want the earliest blooms.
✔️ Pros: Controlled growth conditions, better germination rates, earlier start to the season, improved pest protection.
❌ Cons: Risk of transplant shock, more labour-intensive.
In general, seeds germinate more reliably under controlled conditions in trays filled with seed compost. Using a heated propagator further improves germination rates, making this method ideal for expensive seeds or those that require warm temperatures to sprout. For example, chillies take a long time to establish and require warmth. If direct-sown in the UK, they would likely never reach fruiting size before winter. By starting them indoors in trays, they develop into strong plants by the time the weather is suitable.
To reduce transplant shock, protection such as cloches can help ease the transition from indoor to outdoor conditions. However, seedlings still experience some setbacks when transplanted. The level of disturbance depends on the method—pricking out into pots typically delays growth for about two weeks, whereas planting from containers, plugs, or peat pots minimizes disturbance.
Another major advantage of tray planting is garden design. By starting plants in trays, you can plan formal bedding displays and create instant impact by planting out strong, established plants at just the right time. This minimizes downtime and makes it easier to spot and remove weeds.
💡 The Verdict? If you want strong, natural growth and have easy to germinate seeds, go for direct sowing. If you need better control, accurate design, a head start, minimum garden downtime, and have harder to grow plants, planting from trays is usually the way to go! 🌿✨
