About 41.3% of American households grew food at home in 2021, according to the National Gardening Association, and a significant portion start those plants from seed indoors.
While comprehensive data specifically on seedling starting practices remains limited, growing plants from seed is one of the most common ways American gardeners cut costs and extend their growing season.
Key numbers at a glance
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| American households growing food at home (2021) | 41.3% | National Gardening Association via FOX 29 |
| U.S. households with a garden | About 55% (approximately 71.5 million households) | RubyHome |
| Households that started gardening in 2021 | 18.3 million | RubyHome |
| Gardeners planning to plant more and expand in 2026 | 63.6% | Axiom 2026 Gardening Outlook |
| Millennials / Gen Z expecting to garden more in 2026 | 66.7% / 65.2% | Axiom via Garden Center |
| Average household lawn and garden spending, 2025 (record) | $740 | 2026 National Gardening Survey |
| Gardeners who grow tomatoes | 86% | This Old House |
| Total U.S. lawn and garden spending, 2025 (record) | $79.0 billion | 2026 National Gardening Survey |
| Gardeners who had difficulty finding gardening goods | One in three | Garden Pals |
| Gardeners with in-ground gardens | 66.6% | Petrus Landscape |
| Gardeners with patio pot or container gardens | 39.9% | Petrus Landscape |
| Gardeners who are homeowners | 91% | Petrus Landscape |
What Percentage of Gardeners Start Seeds Indoors?
The exact percentage of households that start seedlings indoors isn’t tracked in most national surveys. However, data shows that growing plants from seeds was among the most common gardening tactics used by U.S. households, particularly as inflation drove gardeners to seek cost-effective alternatives to buying transplants.
Seed starting tends to appeal most to gardeners who prioritize variety, cost savings, and the hands-on experience of nurturing plants from germination.
How Many American Households Garden Overall?
To understand seed starting statistics, we need context about the broader gardening landscape. About 55% of U.S. households have a garden, translating to approximately 71.5 million gardening households and 185.9 million people, according to RubyHome.
The pandemic significantly boosted these numbers: 18.3 million households started gardening in 2021, according to the same source. Many of these newcomers turned to seed starting as an accessible entry point into gardening.
Do Most Gardeners Buy Plants or Start From Seeds?
While precise statistics on the seed-versus-transplant split aren’t widely published, industry patterns provide clues. The National Gardening Association surveys consistently track spending on various gardening supplies, with seeds, bulbs, and transplants representing distinct categories.
In 2025, the average gardening household spent a record $740 on lawn and garden, up 18.3% in a year, with many gardeners strategically choosing between purchasing seeds or transplants based on the crop type, growing season length, and budget constraints.
What Types of Plants Do People Start From Seeds?
Food gardening dominates seed starting activities. The National Gardening Association found 41.3% of U.S. households grew food in 2021, up from 33.1% in 2019 and 35% in 2013.
Every one of those food gardens has to start somewhere, and a lot of them start from seed.
Among food gardeners, certain crops reign supreme. Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable in the U.S., with 86% of gardeners growing them. Since tomatoes require 6-8 weeks of indoor growth before transplanting, many of these gardeners likely start tomato seeds indoors rather than purchasing transplants.
Beyond vegetables, a 2020 University of Illinois Extension survey found 72.86% of gardeners grew flowers and more than half grew vegetables. Many annual flowers benefit from indoor seed starting to extend bloom periods.
How Many People Are Starting Seeds Indoors for the First Time?
The pandemic created a surge in first-time gardeners, many of whom experimented with seed starting. 80% of American households participated in some sort of lawn or gardening activity in 2022, representing a five-year high, according to the National Gardening Survey.
Younger gardeners show particular enthusiasm for expanding their gardening skills. In Axiom’s 2026 Gardening Outlook, 66.7% of millennials and 65.2% of Gen Z gardeners expect to garden more this year, and 63.6% of all gardeners plan to plant more and expand their gardens, suggesting a willingness to try new techniques including seed starting.
Why Do Gardeners Choose to Start Seeds Indoors?
Starting seeds indoors offers multiple advantages that appeal to different gardener priorities. The primary benefits include greater variety selection, cost savings, extending the growing season, and having control over plant health from day one.
Variety drives many gardeners to seed starting. Nurseries typically stock only a handful of common varieties, while seed catalogs offer hundreds of options for any given vegetable or flower. Gardeners seeking heirloom tomatoes, specialty peppers, or rare flower varieties must often grow from seed.
Cost savings matter more as inflation impacts household budgets. Seeds cost significantly less than transplants, with a $3 seed packet potentially yielding dozens of plants that would cost $3-5 each as nursery transplants. For gardeners planting multiple tomato or pepper plants, these savings quickly add up.
What Demographics Are Most Likely to Start Seeds?
Understanding who starts seeds helps explain adoption rates. Millennials now represent nearly a third of all gardeners, and many are embracing indoor plants and food gardening. This tech-savvy generation researches techniques online, shares progress on social media, and experiments with different growing methods.
Budget plays a role too. Gardeners who can invest in grow lights, heat mats, and quality seed starting mix get more reliable results, but a sunny window and recycled containers are enough to get started.
Is Indoor Seed Starting Growing or Declining?
Current trends suggest seed starting will keep growing in popularity in 2026. 50.2% of gardeners expect to spend more time gardening this year, and in 2025, 66.7% of millennials and 63.8% of Gen Z already spent more time gardening than the year before, showing sustained interest among the younger generations who represent the future of home gardening.
The food gardening category specifically shows strong growth trajectories. The number of households engaging in food gardening grew from 36 million in 2008 to 42 million in 2013, and the number of 18- to 34-year-old households growing food rose 63% over that time, according to the National Gardening Association.
How Much Are People Spending on Seeds and Supplies?
Spending patterns reveal gardeners’ commitment to growing from seed. Americans spent a record $79.0 billion on lawn and garden in 2025, with seeds, soil, and starting supplies representing a significant portion for food gardeners.
Younger households drive spending growth. 63.9% of millennials and 49.3% of Gen Z expect to spend more on gardening in 2026, compared with 31.4% of Gen X, suggesting these demographics invest more heavily in establishing their gardens, including seed starting infrastructure.
What Challenges Do Seed Starting Statistics Reveal?
While exact seedling starting rates remain unmeasured in major surveys, available data points to both opportunities and barriers. The practice requires time, space, equipment, and knowledge that not all gardeners possess.
Many gardeners cite difficulty finding supplies during peak planting season. One in three gardeners reported having difficulty finding gardening goods they needed, which likely includes quality seeds, seed starting mix, and containers during the pandemic boom.
The learning curve also factors into adoption rates. Seed starting represents an advanced gardening skill requiring attention to timing, temperature, moisture, and light conditions. Many new gardeners build experience with direct sowing or transplants before attempting indoor seed starting.
Do Container Gardeners Start Seeds?
Container gardening represents a significant segment of home gardening. The most popular types of gardens were in-ground at 66.6% and patio pot/container gardens at 39.9%. These overlapping percentages indicate many gardeners use both methods.
Container gardeners can successfully start seeds indoors and transplant them to pots, making seed starting accessible even for apartment dwellers without traditional garden space. 91% of people who garden are homeowners, while condominium or apartment owners and renters usually garden indoors, do container gardening, or join a community garden.
Key Takeaways About Household Seedling Starting
While we lack a definitive “X% of households start seedlings indoors” statistic, converging data points paint a clear picture. Growing plants from seed is one of the most common ways Americans garden on a budget, particularly among cost-conscious, variety-seeking, and experienced gardeners.
Younger gardeners are especially keen to expand. Food gardeners, especially those growing tomatoes and peppers, are most likely to start seeds indoors due to these crops’ long growing seasons and the substantial cost savings versus buying transplants.
With about 41% of households growing food and 55% gardening overall, millions of American homes likely start at least some seedlings indoors each year. As younger, educated demographics continue entering gardening, and as inflation makes transplants increasingly expensive, seed starting adoption will probably continue its upward trajectory.
The gardening industry would benefit from better tracking of seed starting practices specifically, as this data could help suppliers, retailers, and educators better serve this growing segment of home gardeners seeking to maximize their harvest potential while minimizing costs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of gardeners start seeds indoors?
No national survey tracks an exact percentage of households that start seedlings indoors. What the data does show is that food gardening is widespread, with 41.3% of households growing food in 2021 according to the National Gardening Association, and growing from seed is one of the most common ways gardeners cut costs and extend the season.
How many American households grow their own food?
About 41.3% of American households grew food at home in 2021, up from 33.1% in 2019, according to the National Gardening Association. Earlier NGA data shows food-gardening households grew from 36 million in 2008 to 42 million in 2013, with the number of 18- to 34-year-old households growing food up 63%.
Is it cheaper to start seeds than buy transplants?
Yes, starting from seed is usually much cheaper. A $3 seed packet can produce dozens of plants that would cost $3-5 each as nursery transplants. For context, the 2026 National Gardening Survey found the average gardening household spent a record $740 in 2025, so seed starting is one of the main ways gardeners cut that bill.
Which vegetables should you start indoors from seed?
Tomatoes and peppers are the classic crops to start indoors because of their long growing seasons. Tomatoes need 6-8 weeks of indoor growth before transplanting, and This Old House reports that 86% of gardeners grow them. Many annual flowers also benefit from an indoor start to extend their bloom period.
Who is most likely to start seeds indoors?
Younger gardeners are the most eager to grow more. Garden Pals reports millennials now make up nearly a third of all gardeners, and in Axiom’s 2026 Gardening Outlook, 66.7% of millennials and 65.2% of Gen Z gardeners expect to garden more this year.
Can you start seeds if you only garden in containers?
Yes, container gardeners can start seeds indoors and then move the seedlings into pots, which works even in an apartment. According to Petrus Landscape, 39.9% of gardeners use patio pot or container gardens and 66.6% garden in-ground, with many using both methods.
