I was talking to someone the other day; we were talking about vegetable gardening and I mentioned that I grew really great broccoli last year – more than 10.5 lbs on just 2 plants.
She asked me if I grew them from seed.
Uh no, I bought the plants as starts from the garden store.
She gave a me a funny look and said “Oh, well I suppose that’s pretty good.”
When I went home, I started to think about that exchange.
Should it bother me that I didn’t nurture the plants from seed to harvest? Am I less of a gardener because I bought a plant start? Indeed, am I less of a person because of my gardening habits?
I lay awake in bed thinking that maybe, somehow I wasn’t worthy of being called a gardener. After all, a gardener puts seed to soil, coaxes soft tender green out of a hard stone.
When I awoke it had resolved itself.
The way I figure, you’re a gardener the minute you say you are. There is no more intrinsic value in someone who grow prize winning roses than someone who plants petunias by the mailbox.
If you have the skill to grow great produce from a seed, good for you. If you have the ability to take a tiny start, provide the correct care and feeding to produce a bountiful harvest good for you too!
Never let someone tell you or make you feel that what you’re growing doesn’t have merit.
The simple act of transplanting a start, watering, weeding and cultivating until you may finally harvest makes you a gardener!
Be proud of yourself! I think more people should grow their food!
I wonder if she cures her own bacon?
April 5, 2013
wow! thanks for this post!! i have this same conflict sometimes. but face it, we cant do everything.i’m gonna run right out and buy about 25 broccoli plants soon. buying plants – vs – seeds for some things worked out really well for me last year. for others seeds worked just fine.
i can do a lot of things but start seeds in a house full of over-interested cats just isnt one of them. plus i can spent my time doing what is most effective for me. this year that is starting another crop of grains for to feed the chickens. starting broccoli seeds would be a hair pulling adventure fraught with cats who think seed trays are litterboxes. nope i’m gonna be very happy to drive right down to the little family run place and buy me some of their plants.
OFG, cures her own bacon that she cut out of the pig in her yard. hu-rah!
April 5, 2013
Hoo-rah indeed! I agree some things from seeds are OK (I don’t have the insane cat posse) but others (Eggplant, some peppers) are easier for me to do from starts. Though, I have to say, I’m planning to get more into Heirloom seeds in the coming years so perhaps I’ll get better at seed starting.
April 5, 2013
She was just jealous of your manly 10.5 pounds of broccoli! Ha! I’m always fascinated by how someone’s offhanded snarky comment can really get under my skin. People can be a real pain in the butt. 😉
I’m actually starting my garden this year from seed for the first time ever. The process (and expense) of getting all the organic seeds, soil, planting, watering, finding a sunny place for them all…had me wondering…how much easier and less expensive would this have been just to head into town and buy the plants that were already weather hardened? We’ll see how it goes, I suppose. I may end up in town after all and I couldn’t care less either way. Whatever works, works. And if I end up with 10.5 pounds of broccoli I’ll be very pleased! ~ April
April 5, 2013
That gave me a good laugh! I’ve gardened for over fifty years, so I’d call myself a gardener. I’ve only been growing my own seedlings for about 4 years. I always bought my plants at the nursery! This year I’m returning to the nursery for my main crop tomato plants, rather than buying the seeds, because the varieties I want cost too much (price+postage+handling) and I can buy them for about $1.49 for a six pack! It would cost more than that in potting mix and electricity, not to mention the time and labor.
April 7, 2013
Granny, you certainly are one of the most accomplished veggie growers I know! I didn’t know you just started doing seeds!
April 7, 2013
Yes, I always bought my tomato, pepper and brassica seedlings from the nursery. In the long run, it’s probably cheaper than investing in lights, seed starting mixes, trays, seeds, and all the stuff (and time) one invests in. Plus you buy just what you need and don’t end up with 97 pepper plants, which is a few more than two people really need. Yes, I really do have 97 pepper plants.
April 7, 2013
97 pepper plants! Holy moley!
April 6, 2013
So pleased to hear you say this. I want to start growing my own vegetables and really thought I should grown them from seed, which was actually putting me off!!
April 7, 2013
Kim, welcome! I’m a firm supporter of growing your own, and if you’re doing it from starts, Good on you. I hope you get hooked!
April 6, 2013
I grow so few plants, David, and I’ve been going the seed route for several years now. I just prefer some heirloom tomatoes over the Romas found in most nurseries. This year, I’ve added a container of cherry bomb peppers, thanks to a certain gardener/cook whose name shall … oh, phooey! It’s you David! You’ve got me hooked on those pickled cherry peppers and I just had to try to grow my own! 🙂
April 7, 2013
Great John, I can’t wait to see how your crop turns out. Did you purchase seeds or save some from the peppers?
April 7, 2013
Well said, David (especially concerning the bacon!). Buying plants rather than sowing seeds gives you the ability to choose a small number of several varieties, rather than having lots of the same type. Often, (e.g. when buying from a Garden Centre) you can also choose the best specimens and reject the less-good ones. But I also enjoy the challenge of raising plants from seed.
April 7, 2013
And you are one of the most successful seed starters I know Mark. I wish I had your skill. Both methods are paths to being a Gardener!
April 29, 2013
I grow from seed. No, I am not “more” of a gardener because I do. In my area I don’t like the starts because they are shipped up from the south and there have been health issues. I would rather create the health problems than buy them.
I am also learning more about heirloom varieties. In this area they can be difficult to find. So growing from seed is my only choice.
You are correct you are a gardener when we decide to start growing food. Whether it is herbs inside or a huge garden outside you are a gardner.
I really hate the comparison game and one-ups manship. We should appreciate what each has done to grow and learned.
April 30, 2013
I’d really like to be better at starting seeds, seems I am so busy I never take proper care. Hopefully I can get that to change