What to buy as plants and what to plant as seeds?

[ringstrue]

I'm thinking of planting corn, green beans, zucchini, and basil, all from seed (and start them ASAP). Is this short sighted for a beginner? What are the chances of me finding these plants at the markets/stores?

[kaylie]

I'm pretty new to gardening as well and of the four you mentioned, I did zucchini and basil. Zucchini was easy and quick, but basil was a bit slower. I also killed my zucchini and had to go buy a replacement at the nursery for it anyway =). They also had larger basil, so I got some of that as well. It was $3 for four plants of each ($6 total).

Corn and most beans are all direct sow (there might be exceptions to this) so you'd have to start those from seed. You could buy seeds at the store or order them online.

[NitaX]

Beans were fine as a direct sow for me. Most people buy tomatoes and pepper plants. I tried to sow pepper seeds with no luck.

[Deleted]

I couldn't find corn or green beans as established plants. But basil and zucchini are everywhere.

All my direct sown beans came up and are now all nice and pretty. I didn't try corn.

[statlerwaldorf]

This is my first year gardening, but I was told corn and zucchini are really easy to grow from seed. Pepper plants are high maintenance in the beginning with water and temp and start off better as seedlings. Corn can be used as a trellis for beans and someone at the garden had that work out well for them last year.

[vccake]

May 17, 2012 12:08:49 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

I'm thinking of planting corn, green beans, zucchini, and basil, all from seed (and start them ASAP). Is this short sighted for a beginner? What are the chances of me finding these plants at the markets/stores?

I have never planted corn, but my green beans (pole or bush) and zuch are from seed. I do grow basil from seed but a plant is easier.

[marissa]

I usually plant green beans from seed and everything else from plant. This is my 6th hear gardening. I do tomatoes, green peppers, jalapanos, habaneros, peas, lettuce, corn, and my herbs from plants and the rest from seeds. I couldn't find corn plants this year so I did them from seed and am having no issue at all. This year we added leeks, green onions, carrots, strawberries, and a blueberry bush. I also have a raspberry bush that is overtaking everything. On a side note, anyone in New Jersey want a raspberry shoot? I have about 10 of them.

[Deleted]

I'd do basil plant. I started from seed like a month ago, and they're still so tiny!

[NitaX]

Update - I planted corn from seed. It sprouted quickly!