We don't know what zone you're in, but your best option is neither of those. Buy seedlings from a nursery. It will save you much trouble.

There are some vegetables that do great, maybe even better, sown directly outside. Spinach, peas, cucumbers, corn, lettuce all can be direct seeded in the garden when the time is right.

But it is true we need to know your zone to really give the best advice. If you don't know your zone, list your city state and someone can tell you.

Tomatoes and peppers are best planted as transplants, but it is quite late in most areas of the country to start them from seed indoors, so purchasing plants is likely your best bet.

If you are a complete newbe to gardening. Lettuce,squash,cukes,beans.peas,corn,radishes.okra aremuch better planted from seed outside after the last frost date.(call your county agent. He'll have all kinds of planting guides for you) Tomatoes,peppers have a long growing season and do better started indoors early in the year.

I live in zone 6-7, in northern va.

So do seed sizes make any difference too? Is there a reason why some plants do better when sown outside instead of started indoors?

I'm in NH and a zone cooler than you. I used to direct-sow everything with no issues. The only things I'd purchase were tomatoes & peppers.

Since I discovered winter sowing, I do everything in containers outdoors. I will WS my tomatoes ASAP, but I have given up on the peppers, since I just can't seem to do those so well. I haven't got the patience or discipline to do an indoor setup, so this works for me.

I started my cool season stuff (lettuce, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes) end of march, and just put the seedlings in the ground this past weekend.

I'll WS the rest of my veggies in the next week or so in containers, and plant them out as soon as they have true leaves. (I also have no interest in spending the $$ on 'starts' of plants at a garden center/nursery because the things that I grow (corn, toms, brocolli, zucchini, squash, melons, cukes) do just fine from seed.)

Good luck with your garden!

Hi,

I think some things do better started outside because they have shallow or tender root systems. For example, peas put down very shallow roots, so would probably die during transplanting. Also, there is an advantage to starting your own plants (maybe for next year), then you can hand pick the varieties you like. I can't find the type of tomatoes I prefer at gardening stores, so it's nice to go thru the catalogs in January and order the seeds. You'd probably have to start yours in mid March to get them out in time next year.