Not only are plug plants are a great way to quickly add color to your garden, but they can also make your home more attractive and inviting, ultimately adding to the perceived value of your home. They are affordable and quick and easy to plant – your garden will look fresh and revived in no time at all!
Because much of the initial growth of the plant has already happened, plant plugs can be planted in your flower beds and gardens as soon as the last chance of frost has passed, letting you enjoy the sights of spring sooner than you would by planting seeds.
Whether you buy annual plug plants, or perennial plug plants, or vegetable plug plants, you will enjoy a sooner bloom and sooner harvest than if you’d planted seeds at the same time. Plug planting removes the worry of whether or not seeds will sprout and whether your growing season will be long enough to produce a good crop. Because they are pre-started, buying plant plugs may allow you to grow flower and vegetable varieties that are not usually grown in your area due to local season lengths. If you prefer native plant plugs, these would best be purchased from local growers who are well-versed in what grows best in the local region.
Plant plug trays can be purchased at your local nursery or hardware store. Some internet sites are even beginning to sell plant plugs online. If you prefer the low cost of starting your own seeds from scratch, empty plant plug trays will allow you to start your own flowers or vegetables weeks before the last frost and transplant them into the ground after that point.
As plug plants grow and develop it will be easy to tell them apart from growing weeds because of how much further along they are. This is often a problem for gardeners who grow from seed as many young plants and weeds look similar. Growing plug plants will allow you to pull young weeds before they are a problem, knowing with surety that you are not pulling young seedlings.
Plant plugs do require a little extra attention during the first few days after planting as they do experience some stress in transport and transplantation. Hardening your plug plants to the specific area they will eventually grow can help to lessen this stress. Some plants may also benefit from a transfer to an intermediary peat pot before planting in the garden.
You should also be aware of the spacing between your plug plants when you decide to transplant them. The size of the plug can deceive you into thinking you have more space than you do. You still need to follow the recommended plant spacing for each variety that you have transplanted. Just visualize the size of the plant when it reaches full maturity and you will have a better idea of how far apart you need to space them.
Plug plants are an excellent way to jump start your garden, and provide you an excellent chance of having a complete harvest and a fulfilling garden experience.