For example, an envelope of seed costs about the same or a bit more than six tomato seedlings in a cell pack, which is more than enough for an average garden. Not only does seed need to be grown into seedlings, but one envelope provides much more seed than necessary. The only vegetable plant we acquire in a 4-inch pot is zucchini. This is because we only want one plant and have no use for the extra five plants of a cell pack. Because most vegetable plants grow like weeds, there is not much advantage to purchasing plants in 4-inch pots rather than cell packs.
Early spring is also a good time to plant summer bulbs and bulb-like plants.
Annual flowers suitable for early spring include pansy, viola, stock, ageratum, nemesia, schizanthus and cineraria. Lobelia, marigold, snapdragon and petunia planted now will last through the heat of summer. Propagation by soft wood cutting is an easy technique for increasing the quantity of favorite plants. Chrysanthemums, carnations, fuchsias, ivy and marguerites root easily in moist perlite, sand or potting soil, particularly if a rooting hormone is used. Cuttings of pelargoniums, including geraniums and ivy geraniums, should be left out of soil for a few days so that the cut ends dry.