5 Plants You Should Never Start From Seed (And What to Do Instead)

1. Mint

You may not want to start from seed because mint can be slow to germinate, and it doesn’t always grow true to type. This means the plant you grow may not taste or smell like the variety on the seed packet.

Instead, buy a plant or take a cutting as it spreads easily. Mint is one of the easiest herbs to propagate — simply place a stem cutting in a glass of water until roots form, then transplant. Be sure to grow your mint in its own container, so it doesn’t overtake your growing space.

2. Rosemary

Rosemary can be very slow to germinate (weeks or even months) and has a very low success rate. Even under ideal conditions, germination rates can be as low as 30%, making it a frustrating and costly plant to start from seed.

Instead, we recommend buying a small plant or propagating from a friend’s rosemary bush. To propagate, snip a 4–6 inch cutting from a healthy stem, remove the lower leaves, and place it in moist potting mix until roots develop. 

Colorado’s climate is too cold for most varieties to overwinter outdoors, so we also recommend growing this in a pot so you can bring it indoors during the wintertime.

3. Garlic

Garlic seeds are rarely used and can take years to form into bulbs. Growing from seed is a multi-year commitment that most home gardeners simply don’t need to make. 

Instead, buy the bulbs or individual cloves in the fall to plant for a harvest the following summer. On the Colorado Front Range, aim to plant garlic in September or October, before the ground freezes. A single bulb can provide light for multiple plants in your garden!

4. Potatoes

True potato seeds don’t produce consistent crops and can introduce disease or unpredictable results. Instead, use certified seed potatoes or sprouted potatoes to grow your yield. Certified seed potatoes are disease-free and guaranteed to produce, giving beginner gardeners a much better chance of success. They are beginner-friendly crops that produce abundant harvests. Even a small container or grow bag can yield several pounds of potatoes!

5. Strawberries

Strawberry seeds are slow to establish and may not produce fruit in the first year. Starting from seed also requires a long indoor growing period and precise conditions, making it one of the more difficult fruits to start this way.

Instead, buy starter plants or use runners for your delicious fruit. Runners are the long, horizontal stems that mature strawberry plants naturally send out, which can be pinned to soil or a new pot to root and grow into a full plant — completely free! They are ideal for small spaces (like balconies or patios) and grow well in containers.