starting seeds for fall gardens

I am going to plant the seeds this week. We have a vacation in mid-late July and I want them planted right before we leave. They'd dry out over the time we're gone. If I wait til after to start the seeds, I think I'll be too late. I have drip irrigation on a timer in the garden.

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Are there advantages to starting in pots vs sowing directly into the garden? Is a grow light required for fall plants, or can they be started indoors or out?

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You can start seeds in pots earlier than you can directly in the soil, especially in the summer months with all the high heat we have here in the deep south. Seeds started directly in the soil too early and sprout can find the plants being burned to a crisp since the roots are so close to the top of the soil.

I direct sow everything that I plant in bulk. For the fall garden that includes cucumbers, beans, Swiss chard, Kale, several varieties of leaf lettuces, beets, onions, etc.

Stuff I start early or simply buy from a nursery in 4 or 6 packs are things like broccoli, collards, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, etc. since I only put about 10 each of those in the ground.

If you start the seeds and have the pots outdoors, you don't want them in the direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day or they'll likely be fried in no time. Keep them under indirect sunlight and make sure they are well watered to promote good root development.

The only thing I'll be planting this month is pumpkin seeds. I have followed the LSU Ag planting guide for years for everything else and it has worked out well for me. You could start some heat set tomato seeds this month and transplant them in July. Personally I don't think I'll be doing any fall tomatoes this year. If I do I'll probably just do a few early girls and start seeds in July.

Stuff like broccoli, cauliflower, collards, cabbage, and mustard greens I usually wait until mid August to start seeds. Carrots in September. Onion seed and garlic cloves in October.

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Reimer Seeds

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I would avoid them. On more than a few occasions they have sent me mislabeled seeds. Seems to be a common problem with them when reading other reviews of the company. But they do often have some harder to find varieties and may be worth the gamble from time to time. The others you listed I’ve never had a single problem. And I’ve ordered from all of them.

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Are there advantages to starting in pots vs sowing directly into the garden?

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Some things don’t take transplanting well. And sometimes it’s better to start them in a controlled environment until the weather conditions are more favorable. This extends the growing season and helps with chances of success. Any sort of vining crop I usually direct sow (beans, cucumbers, melons, etc.), also okra, mustards, carrots, and sunflowers.

I have kale and lettuce already in my aerogardens. They are all about 6" tall. 30 of them. They will go in soil in long narrow pots in my shop until fall.

I keep them on rotation year round from fresh salad.