Seeds vs. Grown flowers

I am totally new to this so please forgive me if this is a stupid question but what is the benefits of buying fully grown flowers if you could buy seeds for much cheaper. I would like to plant a lot of flowers and also a few vegetables this year in our yard so Im trying to do it as economically as possible. I was going to buy the seeds...

If anyone can help, that would be great!!

Re: Seeds vs. Grown flowers

We've always had a lot of trouble buying the seeds and growing the plants from them. The conditions to let them grow are very specific and it takes A LOT of work.
Buying them as plants is more expensive...but it's much easier, and more of the plants survive, in my experience.

Re: Seeds vs. Grown flowers

ease - i don't directly sow seeds into the ground. I start them indoors or in my father's mini greenhouse and get them as big as possible before putting them in the ground.

Message edited 2/23/2012 9:29:36 AM.

Re: Seeds vs. Grown flowers

thank you both. i think one of the reasons besides price that i was thinking of seeds was that i want flowers to cover the whole entire ground of the flower bed. i would think that would be A LOT of fully grown plants if i went that way.

i did look up last night some info and i found a list of flowers that are very easy to start from seeds and from directly in your garden, not indoors. i looked over the list and it seemed like cornflowers were a good choice and they spread a lot.

anyone have experience with cornflowers?

Re: Seeds vs. Grown flowers

i tired to grow from seeds our first spring in our house. i started them indoors - actually they never made it outside they did ok for a while but were way too much work and they eventually wilted and died.

if you want lots of flowers that cover your entire bed, look for fast spreading flowers.
we had marigolds last summer that quickly took over our bed (in a good way!) also impatiens, black eyed susans, hostas (for greenery)

the marigolds and impatiens were bought as a flat from HD and were all pretty reasonable.

Message edited 2/23/2012 11:41:09 AM.

Re: Seeds vs. Grown flowers

I have tried seeds (veggie and flowers) indoors. HUGE failure! I need equipment to do so. Like special lights, etc...

You have a higher rate of failure with seeds both started indoors/outdoors.

I have been successful with squash type veggies from seeds.

Re: Seeds vs. Grown flowers

Re: Seeds vs. Grown flowers

Re: Seeds vs. Grown flowers

when you seed, the plants tend to get crowded, and for them to develop properly you need to 'thin' the bed by pulling out some of the growing plants so that the remainder are spaced evenly.

Cornflower is what I seed, and it is also known as pin cushion flower.

Coneflower is a different plant, it's a perennial that comes in different colors, two of the common ones are black eyed susan (yellow) and ecchinachea.

Cornflower :


[Coneflower :

Re: Seeds vs. Grown flowers

thank you!!!! i am getting excited. i am going to try what you said