10 plants you should never grow from seed, including flowers, vegetables and herbs

Growing plants from seed is usually an easy and affordable way to fill your garden, but this method isn’t always suitable for some varieties. Some plants can take years to reach maturity if started from seed, which you may not have time for if you want to fill an empty space quickly. Other plants will be different from the parent plant if grown from seed, which can lead to undesirable results. To ensure you have the garden you want and plan for, we’re sharing plants that experts say should never be grown from seed.

Garlic

Garlic ( Allium sativum ) is a fragrant, tasty plant that can deter pests from your garden thanks to its pungent odor. But experts say you shouldn’t grow garlic from seed because it will have a hard time germinating and producing a crop. “It grows better from cloves.”

Sweet potatoes

Growing yams ( Ipomoea batatas ) from seed doesn’t usually yield reliable results. Instead, most gardeners grow it from cuttings, which are rooted shoots that grow from the yam itself.

Roses

Growing roses from seed can take years, so gardeners usually avoid it. Instead, take stem cuttings from the rose bush you want to grow and root them in soil. “This is the quickest and easiest way to propagate roses.”

Potatoes

Potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum ) grow from tubers, says Langelo, so it’s easiest to grow them from the eyes, or sprouts, that form on the tubers. Cut off a few potato pieces, making sure each piece has at least one eye. Plant the parts with the eyes facing up in well-drained soil, burying each part about 6 inches deep.

Blueberries

Growing blueberries ( Vaccinium spp.) from seed does not guarantee a “type-appropriate” plant, meaning it may not have the same characteristics as the parent plant. Growing blueberries from cuttings is the surest way to retain the traits of the parent plant.

Peonies

Although peonies ( Paeonia ) can be grown from seed, it won’t produce the desired results. “No peonies grown from seed will carry over the characteristics of the parent plant”. In addition, it can take up to seven years before peonies grown from seed are mature enough to bloom.

Hostas

Hostas ( Hosta spp.) are a reliable perennial for shady areas of the garden. “There are many varieties covering all kinds of sizes, foliage coloration and general shapes.” “Given the unique characteristics of the many different varieties, maintaining these distinctive traits is a paramount consideration when propagating this plant.” Dividing hostas is the best way to ensure you get a plant that looks identical to the parent.

Onions

While onions ( Allium sepa ) can technically be grown from seed, it’s not the best or easiest way. Instead, most gardeners prefer to grow onions from bulbs. You can also buy seed onions, which are small bulbs grown from the previous season’s seeds.

Rosemary

Rosemary ( Salvia rosmarinus ) won’t have the same characteristics as the parent plant if grown from seed. Instead, it is best to grow this plant from cuttings. “Propagation by seed takes several years, and the result may not be what you want.”

Ochitok

Ochitok ( Sedum ), like many other succulents, is best grown from cuttings rather than seeds. Simply taking a cuttings from a vigorously growing shoot and placing it in a moist environment will encourage root development. “Pretty soon a whole new plant will begin to develop.”