Most gardening enthusiasts assume that any plant can be easily grown from seed. Although waiting for sprouts after sowing seeds in the soil may seem simple, it is not always the case. Some seeds require special conditions, such as a specific temperature, suitable soil, and a long time to germinate. Furthermore, some plants may require many years to fully develop, which makes the wait challenging for gardeners.
Alternative Planting Methods
If you aim to create a beautiful garden at home, it is best to plant such plants not from seeds, but to purchase them as cuttings, bulbs, rhizomes, or ready-made seedlings from a nursery.
Difficult Plants and How to Grow Them
Rosemary is a popular culinary herb. However, it is difficult to grow from seed because the seeds germinate slowly, and the plant may not establish itself without ideal conditions. It is much easier to obtain a new rosemary specimen by using a cutting from a healthy plant and planting it in the ground.
Tulips are known for their magnificent flowers, but when grown from seed, flowering can take several years because the plant grown from seed matures slowly. The most effective method is planting tulips from bulbs, which allows flowers to appear within a few months if the correct season is observed.
Onions can be grown from seed, but this requires more time and effort. For beginner gardeners, growing onions from seed can be a challenging task. A faster harvest can be achieved by buying small bulbs (sets) or seedlings.
Fruit trees, such as apple and mango, may require a very long wait when planted from seed. Moreover, a plant grown from seed may not bear fruit identical to that of the parent tree. Therefore, grafted seedlings are preferable for fruit trees, which increases the likelihood of early fruiting.
Snapdragon is a very beautiful flowering plant, but its seeds are very small and require careful care and the correct temperature for germination. It is easier to get flowers by purchasing a ready-made plant from a nursery.
Coneflower requires cold stratification for seed germination, so direct growing from seed is not easy for everyone. It is recommended to purchase the plant from a nursery or use the method of dividing an existing plant.
Clivia is another beautiful flowering plant that requires patience, as reaching maturity from seed takes many years. The easiest way to propagate clivia is by using small seedlings or dividing old plants.
Tuberous Begonia has very small seeds that require significant care when growing. It can take a long time before flowering. A simpler and more successful method is planting from a tuber.
Tips for Beginner Gardeners
If you are just starting out in gardening, you should choose plant varieties that are easy to grow from seed. For those who need more time and specialized skills, purchasing ready-made plants—cuttings, bulbs, rhizomes, or seedlings from a nursery—is a more sensible choice.