Lecture Notes: Fall Planting - To Seed or Not to Seed?

Introduction

• Date & Location: Thursday, September 5th, South Georgia.
• Channel Introduction: Lazy Dog Farm family, aimed at home gardeners.
• Topic: Discussing five plant varieties to consider buying as transplants instead of starting from seed in the fall.
• Context: Seed starting is a valuable skill, but not always the most cost-effective or practical.

General Considerations

• Cost: Seeds are cheaper than plants, but you may not use all the seeds.
• Effort: Growing transplants from seeds requires time and effort.
• Quantity Needed: Often, only a few plants are needed, making buying more practical.

Plants to Consider Buying

1. Celery

• Flavor: Homegrown celery is more flavorful than store-bought.
• Growing Conditions: Cool-season crop, grows well in South Georgia winter.
• Difficulty: Takes 8-12 weeks to grow viable transplants, requires patience.
• Recommendation: Buy a few plants due to the small number needed.

2. Dill

• Uses: Great for deviled eggs and other dishes in cooler months.
• Ease of Growing: Easy to start from seed; can create a permanent bed as dill volunteers easily.
• Recommendation: Buy a couple of plants due to low quantity needed.

3. Parsley

• Cold Tolerance: Extremely cold-tolerant, survives low temperatures.
• Ease of Growing: Easy to start from seed, but excess seeds not needed.
• Recommendation: Buy one or two plants for convenience.

4. Cilantro

• Usage: Frequently used, especially in dishes like tacos and burritos.
• Ease of Growing: Seeds available but may not be needed in large quantities.
• Recommendation: Buy plants as a few can suffice for personal use.

5. Rosemary

• Usage: Excellent for flavoring potatoes.
• Difficulty: Difficult to start from seed; easier to propagate from cuttings.
• Recommendation: Buy plants for ease and reduce hassle.

Additional Considerations

• Variety: Consideration of hybrid varieties that perform better in certain climates.
• Learning: While starting from seed is educational, consider time investment vs. buying transplants.

Conclusion

• Personal Preferences: Urge to share personal choices and experiences in the comments.
• Further Resources: Link to a video on fall seed starting process and germination tips.

Final Thoughts

• Weigh the effort and cost of seed starting against the convenience of buying plants.
• Consider your personal gardening goals and resources before deciding.