Sowing your own is worth it for a wide choice of varieties and lots of plants; young plants save you light, space and six to eight weeks of raising. Neither option is fundamentally better - what matters is your own circumstances and the quality of the seed or plant.
Tomato seed vs. young plant, side by side
| Criterion | sowing yourself | buying a young plant |
|---|---|---|
| Variety choice | very wide | seasonal range |
| Time needed | sowing, care, potting on and hardening off | starts shortly before planting time |
| Space | a bright growing spot for several weeks | only space for the finished plant |
| Cost | economical for many plants; factor in equipment | higher per plant, little growing equipment needed |
| Risk | germination and seedling stage are on you | check transport, settling in and quality |
When should you sow tomatoes yourself?
Go for seed if you're after rare varieties, need lots of plants, or simply want to experience the whole process yourself. You'll need a bright spot and the right start date. You'll find the full method in our guide Sowing Tomatoes; how to pot them on afterwards is explained in Potting On Tomatoes.
When are young plants worth it?
Young plants are the practical choice with us if you only want a few, don't have a bright growing spot, or have missed the sowing window. When buying, look for compact growth, healthy leaf undersides, a clear variety label and a well-developed root ball that isn't completely matted.
Combining both routes
You can raise special varieties yourself and add sturdy standard varieties as young plants. That way your selection stays wide without every spot on the windowsill being taken up.
Your decision in five questions
- Do you have a very bright spot in March?
- Do you want more than just a couple of plants?
- Are you after a variety that's rarely available as a young plant?
- Do you enjoy potting on and checking in daily?
- Do you want to start right at planting season?
Buying young plants in season
We offer our young tomato plants from Illmitz seasonally in spring. We explain the right timing after purchase in When to Plant Tomatoes?.