If you’re growing a garden for the first time, you probably have so many questions! One of the biggest ones could be the question of direct seed vs transplant. Or maybe you need to start some seeds inside. Which is best?
My first year to plant a garden, I bought baby tomato, squash, okra, and watermelon plants from Lowe’s. I was so new at gardening, it didn’t even cross my mind to plant anything from seed.
Planting seeds seemed too scary. Would it grow? When do I plant? Plus, truth be told, I didn’t want to wait. There’s an immediate satisfaction to planting a baby plant in the ground that you don’t get when you bury a seed.
Still, I learned quickly that planting everything from baby plants became very expensive the larger I expanded my garden. Plus, it didn’t always work out so well, depending on the plant.
The more I got into gardening, and the more research I did, I discovered certain plants ARE best when they’re planted as transplants, but I also found it’s unnecessary to spend extra money to buy crops as baby plants. Many, in fact, don’t do well when transplanted.
In this week’s episode of the Beginner’s Garden Podcast, I break down the plants that I prefer to plant as transplants, which one I plant as seeds directly in the garden, and which ones I start indoors. I explain why each plant responds better in the garden that way. Click below to listen or continue reading.
Growing juicy crisp cucumbers is a goal for many home gardeners. But should you start cucumber seeds directly in the garden or get a head start by growing transplants indoors? This common question has good arguments on both sides. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of each method to help you decide the best way to plant cucumbers for your garden.
The Benefits of Direct Sowing Cucumber Seeds
Direct sowing means planting cucumber seeds right into the garden bed where they will grow and produce fruit Here are some of the main advantages of this method
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It’s simple and easy. Just wait for the right planting date, pop seeds in the ground water, and let them grow! Minimal tools and supplies needed.
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No transplant shock – Cucumber seedlings are sensitive and often struggle with the transition from indoor pots to the garden Direct sowing avoids this
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Earlier harvest – Direct sown plants mature faster, allowing you to start enjoying cucumbers sooner.
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Less work – No need to pot up seedlings, harden them off, or move them outside. Less time and effort required overall.
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Cost effective – Purchasing seeds is cheaper than buying transplants. And starting your own transplants takes supplies.
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Natural disease prevention – Avoiding the indoor seed starting process prevents damping off disease.
For most gardeners, direct sowing cucumbers is the simplest way to get a bountiful harvest with very little fuss.
Reasons Some Gardeners Prefer to Start Cucumber Transplants
While direct sowing is often best, there are some situations where getting a head start with transplants makes sense:
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Short growing season – Starting seeds indoors gives transplants a size advantage when the outdoor season is very short.
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Cold weather – Transplants can be grown until soil warms enough for cucumbers to thrive. No waiting to plant!
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Earlier harvest – For the earliest possible cucumbers, 4-5 week old transplants get a jump start.
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Better germination – You can ensure ideal conditions for the highest percent of seeds to germinate when starting indoors.
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Space maximization – No wasted seeds or guesswork required when sowing one plant per cell or pot.
For gardeners who are short on time, impatient for cucumbers, or dealing with a very brief growing window, transplants can make sense.
How to Direct Sow Cucumber Seeds Outdoors
Ready to try your hand at direct sowing cucumbers this year? Follow these tips for success:
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Wait until soil has warmed to at least 60°F. This is crucial for good germination.
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Prepare soil by mixing in ample compost to retain moisture and nutrients. Cucumbers thrive in well-draining, fertile soil.
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Plant 1-2 seeds per spot, 1/2 to 1 inch deep, spaced 2 feet apart. Or sow seeds 6 inches apart in rows 2-3 feet apart.
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Water gently after sowing and keep soil evenly moist but not soaked as seeds germinate.
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Thin to one plant every 12-18 inches once they have 2-3 true leaves.
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Provide support by sowing around a trellis or staking plants as vines lengthen.
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Use row cover to boost warmth and growth. Remove once female flowers appear so bees can pollinate.
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Follow proper spacing, watering, and care guidelines for your variety.
Before you know it, you’ll be harvesting buckets of crisp, homegrown cucumbers!
How to Successfully Transplant Cucumber Seedlings
Want to try starting your cucumbers indoors? Here are some tips:
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Start seeds in biodegradable pots or peat pellets. Avoid plastic as roots stick to sides.
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Grow at 70-80°F on a seedling heat mat if needed. Provide 14+ hours of light daily.
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Harden off plants before moving outside. Allow 7-10 days to transition.
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Transplant on a cloudy day or in late afternoon to avoid wilting. Water transplants well.
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Handle carefully to avoid disturbing roots and stems. Cucumber seedlings are fragile!
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Bury stems up to the seed leaves to establish plants. Support larger vines with garden twine.
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Provide shade for a few days using a row cover, shade cloth, or shingles.
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Maintain even moisture. Don’t let new transplants dry out as they establish roots.
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Monitor closely and be prepared to replace any transplants that fail to thrive after a move to the garden.
Bottom Line: Weigh the Pros and Cons for Your Situation
When it comes to starting cucumbers, neither method is inherently “right” or “wrong” – it comes down to your specific garden conditions and needs. Direct sowing makes the most sense for many home gardeners due to its simplicity. But earlier harvests or specific weather challenges can make transplants a smart choice worth the extra effort. Whichever route you choose, follow sound growing practices to end up with an abundant cucumber crop!
Best Plants to Plant as Transplants in the Garden
Certain plants grow the best and give you the most harvest when you plant them directly in the garden.
Tomatoes, Peppers, and Tomatillos
Tomatoes, peppers, and tomatillos require warm temperatures. If you wait until the soil warms up sufficiently in the garden to plant the seeds, they will not have time to grow and produce a good harvest. This is especially true for shorter-season climates. Those of us with long seasons could possibly get away with planting tomato seeds in the ground, but who wants to wait that long until the harvest? Plus, when summer temperatures rise in the 90s, most tomato plants stop setting fruit.
It’s best to get tomatoes, peppers, and tomatillos an early start inside and transplant them in the garden when the weather warms.
Many beginners choose to purchase these transplants at the garden center, though now I start all of mine inside.
Broccoli and cabbage are tricky crops for the beginning gardener. In my southern climate, our short spring and fall seasons prove challenging for these long-growing but cool-weather loving plants.
When I naively sowed broccoli and cabbage seed directly in my garden — either in a spring or fall planting — they never had time to grow until the season changed.
For these reasons, it’s best to plant broccoli and cabbage as transplants in the garden at the proper time. You can purchase transplants at the garden center or start them inside.
Though strawberries can technically be planted from seed, they will take a long time to grow. I tried once with no success, even starting inside with controlled conditions.
But the bigger reason, I think, to plant strawberry crowns (transplants) lies in the wait to harvest. Strawberries won’t start bearing a full crop until the second season, and planting them from seed will delay your harvest even longer.
You can purchase strawberry transplants at a garden center (a more expensive option) or look for bare root transplants at a garden center. Get tips for growing strawberries here.
Herbs are staples in my kitchen garden, and I’ve grown them with varied success throughout the years. Some, like basil and dill, are easily started from seed, but beginning gardeners will find better success planting them as transplants.
The reason? Not only to most herbs planted from seed grow slowly, but the seeds are also extremely slow to germinate. If you plant them directly outside, you’re less likely to tend to them and ensure they’re watered every day. If you grow them inside, you may have more success, though it’s still a long wait.
Other herbs like rosemary are reproduced through cuttings so you’ll have to purchase a transplant anyway. But once you do, unless you’re in an extremely cold climate, you’ll have rosemary for years.
Unless you’re growing an entire kitchen herb garden, which could get expensive to purchase all transplants, I recommend beginners start with transplants for all their herbs, with the exception of basil and dill.
Though veteran gardeners will recommend planting onions from seed, onions require a very long seed starting period. I plant some of my onions from seed, and I start them indoors several months before my average last frost.
Unless you’re willing to babysit these baby plants for a long period of time, you’re best served by planting these as transplants. More on growing onions here.
Growing Cucumbers ⌛️ Direct Sowing vs Transplants
FAQ
Is it better to direct sow cucumbers or transplant?
The Best Option Is to Direct Sow Your Cucumbers
If you’re growing any kind of cucurbit—whether that’s cucumbers, squash, or watermelons—I typically don’t recommend moving the plants. They’re fragile little seedlings that get stressed out very easily. It’s best to start with seeds in the garden if you’re at all able.
What should not be planted next to cucumbers?
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Haxnickshttps://www.haxnicks.co.uk9 Companion Plants to Grow with Cucumbers (3 to AVOID!) – HaxnicksMar 3, 2024 — Plants to Avoid Planting Near Cucumbers * Potatoes, as they are both susceptible to fungal disease blight. * Aromatic herb plants like sage and basi…
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Frydhttps://fryd.appCompanion Plants for Cucumbers: What to Plant With Cucumbers – FrydJan 19, 2025 — Antagonistic plants for cucumbers * Plants in the same family as zucchinis, melons and pumpkins should not be planted directly next to cucumbers. *
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The Sprucehttps://www.thespruce.com17 Cucumber Companion Plants: What’s Good, Bad, and BestWorst Companion Plants for Cucumbers. … Sage, Basil, and Rosemary: Aromatic herbs like these can stunt the growth of cucumbers, and their strong fragrances co…
Are cucumbers sensitive to transplanting?
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Sensitive root system:Cucumbers have shallow and delicate roots that can be easily damaged during the transplanting process.
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Transplant shock:The disturbance of the root system can cause stress and delay growth, potentially leading to wilting or stunted growth, according to a Reddit user.
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Best practice:It’s generally recommended to start cucumber seeds directly in the garden rather than transplanting them, states Gardenary.
Should I direct sow or transplant?
In the spring, when the soil is cool, it is best to use transplants. If planting in late August for a fall crop, feel free to direct seed.