Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Bunnings seedlings seem to be about the same price as a fully grown plant from a supermarket so it's not exactly economical to buy them there.

I haven't got seed packets saved up or anything I've only just gt my system cycling again so I need to plant some stuff in it

Punnets of seedlings from the big 'B' are $2.30 or $2.80 (two brands) over here in WA. For that you get 8 seedlings, making things such as Brocolli for example about 35c per head, here in WA they cost about $2.00-$3.00 each, depending on the time of year... How much are they in Sydney?

For leafy greens I direct sow seeds into the GB, I sprinkle twice as many seeds as I require into the area in the GB where I want them, if they all germinate I thin them out. The only plants I buy seedlings of for my AP system are things like Capsicum, Brocolli, Cauli's etc.

http://www.edenseeds.com.au/content/default.asp is a good source and lots of heirloom varieties

I like Eden seeds as well.

Their prices for sprouting seed are really reasonable.
And, if you are a tomato lover you'll be in hog heaven with their vast range of varieties.

Gees I thought seedlings were fairly cheap really....

A cheap source for seedlings in WA is City Farm near the Claisebrook train station.

But I agree with EB I thought the prices from B and other places were cheap.

we are actually getting more heirloom varieties of tomato and pepper seedlings here thiis year. Mortgage lifter, Aunt rubys green, and black cherry are some, and all good ones as I have grown them before.
Seeds give a bigger range of course

You could join a food swap and swap something else for free seeds. We have a food swap somewhere near us most weekends. You take your excess produce and swap if for someone else's excess. Some people let a plant go to seed or go to the trouble of saving seeds and then have more than they need. If there are no food swaps near you then you could place a wanted ad on freecycle or gumtree asking for free seeds. If you offer to send a self addressed envelope to the person with seeds they might send some to you.

Landsdale Plants, $1.20 per punnett of seedlings

When you buy a punnet of seedlings, those plants have been growing in optimum conditions in custom grrenhouses for weeks and are often good looking well cared for plants when they first arive at Bunnings. Good luck if you try and match them as far as starting your own seeds at home at the same time, I doubt they'd be lucky to look as good as the ones that you can pick off the shelf the day they arrive from the grower. I'd aim to find out when they get their new stock in and that is the day I'd look to buy. You can just about pick the variety that you want and the size you want. You could try growing your own from seed but at $3-00 per pack you probably don't need 100 seeds.
If you have ever tried keeping seedlings alive during warm weather you would understand that the costs are not just for the ones that you buy but also probably to cover oh so many losses. I do belive plants that are bought from Bunning are covered by a waranty so you can take them back with your receipt and it can be replaced.
I'd be hesitant to buy from supermarkets with artifical lighting as the plants often look weak having been kept indoors. Just my 2 cents worth.

Maybe I missed the cheaper seedlings... I did pick up 3 cherry tomatos for around $3 so that was a good deal assuming i can transplant and have them survive.

The general message I am getting is to stop being such a tightarse. Message received I'll go buy some seedlings.

Seeds are good. I have lettuce, silver beet, beans, cucumbers, rockmelons and some rouge tomatoes coming up from seed thrown in a clay ball bed.
I agree that other plants are better being bought as seedlings, like brassicas, and herbs

i went to our local b store, you could buy one strawberry plant for like $5 or you could buy 6 strawberry plants for about $2.60 but were half the size. noticed this with most there seedlings you can buy advanced seedlings but were expensive or you could buy a punnet of 6-8 for half the price and size.

we also bought a mini germinating greenhouse that seems to work well, has a clear plastic cover on it with vents.

I grow everything from seed. You just have to plan ahead and set up a good area for propagation and growing seedlings. Also collect your own seed from your crops and it will cost you nothing. Some things are difficult to save seed from so have to buy more but that's ok. You do need a bit of space though as saving seed can take time and valuable growing space