Is Starting From Seed Still Cheaper Than Buying Plants? Let’s Do the Math

Starting vegetables from seed can cost more than expected when trays, growing mix and supplemental lighting are needed, but the economics improve when gardeners produce many plants and reuse equipment for multiple seasons. Direct-sown crops such as radishes and carrots offer an even clearer savings opportunity because they require no indoor seed-starting setup at all. olesia basova/Shutterstock

A $4 tomato plant doesn’t sound expensive until you need six tomatoes, four peppers, a tray of lettuce, basil, broccoli, and a few flowers. Suddenly, the spring garden-center trip costs $60 before anything has gone into the ground, making a $3 packet containing dozens of seeds look like an obvious bargain. But the real seed starting cost isn’t simply the price printed on the packet, especially if you’re starting plants indoors. Add seed-starting mix, trays, pots, plant labels, supplemental lighting, electricity, and the seedlings that don’t survive, and buying transplants can occasionally win. Let’s run the numbers on several realistic gardens to see when starting from seed actually saves money.

Direct-Sown Seeds Are the Easy Winner