Getting Established

For many plants sown by seed--in particular, annuals that are planted in the ground--the critical period is relatively short, often no more than a week to 10 days. Because annuals complete an entire life cycle within a year or less, they are able to establish a vigorous root system during a fairly short time.

Perennials sown from seed in the garden need a little more attention because they take three years to become truly established. To establish perennials correctly, provide water at least once a week during the growing season, apply nutrients (ideally in the form of compost) once or twice a year, and mulch to conserve moisture and help guard against weeds.

You may need to take additional precautions to protect your plants from damaging pests and diseases. "In my experience, plants sown from seed directly in the garden fare far better in virtually every respect," says James, "including their ability to withstand attack from pests and diseases, than plants that are stuck in the ground as transplants. And again, the reason is simple--no transplant shock."

Because transplants provide gardeners with instant gratification and garden beauty, most people prefer to buy transplants rather than patiently wait for seeds to mature. If you decide on transplants, choose plants in the smallest containers available because smaller plants are far less likely to suffer from transplant shock. James recommends avoiding any plants in containers larger than one gallon. Keep in mind, smaller plants are also a lot easier to plant.

Do not purchase plants whose top growth has outgrown the container because that indicates that the grower over-fertilized and the plant may not have enough of a root system to support the top growth. "Most importantly," says James, "you need to plant at the right time, which in most parts of the country is spring or fall or both." These seasons provide the best conditions for establishing healthy plants.