May 16, 1997

Gardeners who plant a large cutflower garden or like to edge their vegetable gardens with annual flowers find it is more economical to direct-seed these flowers into their garden than to purchase transplants. Many fast-growing annuals will be flowering within 7 weeks of sowing the seed. Unfortunately, there are a few disadvantages to direct-seeding. The obvious problem is the plants will not be flowering as soon in the garden as compared with those started indoors and set out as transplants. Also, after the seedlings come up, they will need to be thinned out to a uniform plant spacing.