The Unexpected Gardener

Hi there, my name is Njoki, I'm an unexpected gardener who shares tips and tricks to get an abundant year round harvest. Stick around and learn with me.

Module Sowing vs Direct Sowing, which is better?

When it comes to growing your own food, there seem to be two key methods that are popularly used in starting off plants. On the one hand, the received wisdom seems to be that module sowing is the best option for starting off your seeds. But I got to wondering, if it really was the best option, when compared to Direct Sowing?

I’ll be totally honest, my default strategy is to start off my seeds in modules (which in essence is what module sowing is), and then plant out more established plants. In comparison, I rarely sow directly into the ground nowadays but I know this method of growing appealed most to me when I started off. So which is better? 

PROS OF MODULE SOWING:

  1. Takes up less space: Starting seeds off in containers takes up less space. This is a big consideration in the cooler months, when growing under cover is a necessity, but space is limited. You can also start seeds off earlier as a result, which is a big bonus if you’re trying to be self-sufficient throughout most of the year. 
  2. You can start more seeds off: As a result of taking up less space, you can get more VOLUME of seeds. This increases your chances of having more crops grow to fruition. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is to allow for losses. In this case, MORE IS MORE.
  3. It is cheaper: Starting off seeds is a cheaper alternative, than say buying in plant plugs at the garden centre. This is because you’re not limited to a few plants- you can sow as many as you like, far more than you’d get in a shop. 
  4. It is easier to do succession planting: This is because you can have small seedlings taking up a small space in a container, while on the ground you have a crop waiting to be harvested. Once the crop is harvested, you don’t have long to wait before you can replant with new already established plants. If you’re as impatient as me, then this seems to feel like it’s never too long before a new crop is ready for harvesting. 
  5. Plants are more established: With this method, you have seedlings that are more established, and with a bit of luck will be able to withstand any pest and weed pressure there is when they get planted out. 

CONS OF MODULE SOWING: 

  1. The seedlings need more care and attention: This is especially so in terms of watering, and then pricking out as the seedling becomes established. Pricking out seedlings can be a chore sometimes, as I often find I’m not very patient. And of course, they can’t be left without water for very long, as they are only little containers. This can be mitigated in part by using capillary matting or a tray that holds water underneath for the seedlings, to pull water out from for a bit longer than say a day or two. 
  2. Pests and Disease pressure can be catastrophic: I had a lot of slug pressure in the greenhouse this past year and my poor seedlings were the perfect gourmet dish within easy reach for the slugs. As the seedlings were grown in volume, the impact was disastrous and meant starting off again a number of times. There was no real mitigation for this, other than trying to buy in some plugs from others to fill the gap.
  3. It’s not always appropriate: For instance, with ‘tap root’ plants such as carrots and parsnips, it is not advisable to start these off in modules. They tend to ‘sulk’ when they are moved. Similarly, with potatoes whilst there is a small advantage in starting them off in modules, it is just as easy to direct sow them. 

As you can see, there are more advantages than there are disadvantages with module sowing, but we shouldn’t discount direct sowing as an option without a bit of analysis. 

PROS OF DIRECT SOWING

  1. The ‘seed either makes it or doesnt’: Being sown directly means that the seed will either make it (i.e. germinate successfully) or won’t! As it is outdoors, I feel the seeds are somehow more resilient than those which are started off in modules. 
  2. There is a little bit ‘less work’: Often there is not as much pricking out labour required for instance with seedlings like lettuce or beetroot when sown directly. 
  3. It’s sometimes the best way: As mentioned before, some seeds like carrots and parsnips, just don’t appreciate being handled too much. They prefer to be sown directly, and won’t take easily to being module sown. 

CONS OF DIRECT SOWING: 

  1. It’s harder to spot the weeds from the true seedlings: Oftentimes, weeds and seedlings will grow together at the same time. Unless you have a good knowledge base, these become a bit tricky to differentiate particularly when small. But this is perversely the best time to also prick out, so some care is needed to ensure you don’t prick good seedlings. 
  2. A failed crop can take a long time to recover from: With direct sowing, there are no secondary or ‘insurance’ seedlings, this can be a big loss time wise especially as the growing window might have long passed for establishing some plants. 

THE VERDICT:

Module sowing has more benefits overall compared to direct sowing for the more established grower. Whilst direct sowing is a good and viable alternative, there are more chances of success with module sowing, especially if you have a goal to be self-sufficient or have a wider variety of crops to enjoy. Over to you, what’s your preference? Let’s share and learn from one another!