Difference Between Seeds and Seedlings

Seeds vs Seedlings

If you are fond of gardening, you may already know a lot about seeds and seedlings. But for those who are new to this talk, they often treat the two as one and the same.

Seeds and seedlings are different from each other. To put it simply, a seed is a seed ‘“ a tiny embryonic plant that is encapsulated in a shell called the seed coat. What’s inside can also be some stored food. Seeds in actuality are the end result of a ripened ovule of seed bearing plants (gymnosperms) and flowering plants (angiosperms) that follow the fertilization process. On the other hand, a seedling is also a seed but has just sprouted. It is therefore a baby or an infant plant.

The main question between the two is what to use in vegetable gardening. Some say using seeds are best while others claim that seedlings are far better. Well, both have their pros and cons and the usage of either one depends on the situation or need. If you are dealing with plants that have long growing seasons then you can use seeds if you are in warmer climate regions. But if you are in fast changing warm to cold climate areas then it may be best to use seedlings for that same plant.

There are many techniques in planting seeds. These methods also vary depending on what type of seed you’d like to grow. Some seeds just need to be placed at the surface of your seed-raising mix while other seeds need to be buried a little deeper. Seedlings are usually transplanted so as long as the plant is a kind that transplants well then go for seedlings and not seeds.

In general, the majority of seeds for vegetable or fruit gardening grow slower compared to seedlings. Most seedlings germinate in 2 weeks or less. At this same time, they have already penetrated a little firmly on the ground. Giving them 2 to 3 more weeks would make the seedling look like ordinary young plants. Take note, there are some vegetables whose germination rate are slower than most plants so even if you plant them as seedlings you shouldn’t expect them to mature soon. Because of this nature, seeds are often a lot cheaper compared to buying seedlings that already have some minor roots and premature stems.

Choosing which item to use for your garden is really a matter of personal preference, knowledge of your plant’s growing season, and also on the urgency of your harvest ‘“ like if you want to reap your fruits or vegetables a lot quicker or not.

1. Seeds are seeds (encapsulated embryonic plants) while seedlings are seeds that have just sprouted.

2. Seeds usually grow a lot slower compared to seedlings.

3. Seeds are generally less expensive than seedlings.

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