If you love to garden but don’t start your own plants from seed, you’re missing out on the challenge and satisfaction that goes along with pampering your own select seedlings from day one.

I’m a big advocate of home gardeners growing their own plants from seed rather than depending on their local nursery to supply vegetable transplants and seedlings. Fortunately the seed starting process isn’t complicated and doesn’t require a greenhouse or any other expensive equipment.

This week I’ll be posting a short series of articles detailing seed starting tips to help you plant and grow your own vegetable, flower, and herb seedlings to transplant out into the garden. What’s the big deal about starting your own seedlings? Well read on for some of the benefits to be gained.

Seed Starting Diversity

One of the biggest advantages of growing plants from seed is that it gives you the ability to grow the specific varieties of plants that interest you, rather than being forced to settle for whatever variety happens to be produced by the commercial plant suppliers in your area.

Want to grow colorful Purple Peacock Broccoli or richly flavored Black Krim tomatoes? How about the variegated heirloom Fish Peppers, golden Sunburst Pattypan Squash, or ornamental and tasty Tuscan Black Palm Kale? Discover the diversity that’s available when raising your own vegetable transplants.

Starting your own plants from seed will open up a world of thousands of beautiful and delicious fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs that you won’t find growing at your local greenhouse or garden center. But you can easily grow them in your basement or in a corner of a spare room.

Grow it Your Way

In addition to selecting the particular plant varieties that will grace your garden, seed starting also puts other gardening decisions completely in your hands. Want to garden organically? Starting your own seeds will allow you to eliminate the use of chemicals and select the types of fertilizers used to nourish your seedlings.

Would you like to have cabbage, kale, Brussels Sprouts, and other cold weather crops on hand to transplant at the proper time for a terrific fall garden? Raising your own vegetable transplants will enable you to better manage the gardening schedule and plant resources in your garden.

Don’t be frustrated by the quality, selection, or availability of plants when you are ready to garden. Start your own seeds and you can truly have it your way and not be limited by factors that are outside of your control.

Raising Super Seedlings

You may not be a professional plant grower, but you don’t need a degree in horticulture to grow super seedlings and vegetable transplants that are able to outperform their commercially grown counterparts. It’s just a matter of a little time and care directed towards your seedlings.

You’re in a better position to pamper and spoil a few flats of special seedlings than a commercial grower who is caring for thousands of plants. You can give your seedlings more attention and a personal touch that they won’t receive at a retail home and garden center.

A little extra care and an eye to detail while planting your own seeds will reward you with superior seedlings that are healthy, stocky, and ready to grow. If you want to learn more about seed starting and growing vigorous vegetable transplants just stay tuned… tomorrow I’ll review the equipment and seed starting supplies that you’ll need to raise your own vegetable seedlings indoors.

Other Related Vegetable Gardening Posts:

• Seed Starting Supplies
• Seed Starting Essentials
• Seed Starting Woes
• Starting Tomato Plants
• Growing Transplants from Seed