10 Plants You Should Never Grow From Seed—Including Flowers, Vegetables, and Herbs There are better ways to grow these plants. Close Credit: Getty Images Growing plants from seed is typically an easy and affordable way to fill in your garden, but this method is not always suitable for some varieties. Certain plants can take years to reach maturity if started from seed, which you may not have time for if you want to fill in a bare spot quickly. Other plants will look different from the parent plant if grown from seed, which can yield undesirable results. To ensure you have the garden you want and plan for, we're sharing the plants that experts say you should never grow from seed. Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University Damon Abdi of the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University's AgCenter 01 of 10 Garlic Credit: Getty Images Garlic (Allium sativum) is a fragrant, delicious plant that can keep pests out of your garden thanks to its pungent smell. But experts say to avoid growing garlic from seed, as it will have a hard time germinating and producing a harvestable crop. "It grows better from the cloves," says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. 02 of 10 Sweet Potatoes Credit: Getty Images Growing sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) from seed typically doesn't yield reliable results. Instead, most gardeners grow them from slips, which are rooted sprouts that grow out of the sweet potato itself, says Damon Abdi of the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University's AgCenter. Gently remove the slips by twisting or slicing them off and placing them in a glass of water or potting soil. How to Grow Sweet Potatoes Indoors for Abundant Harvests All Year 03 of 10 Roses Credit: Getty Images Growing roses from seed can take years, so gardeners typically avoid doing so. Instead, take stem cuttings from the rose bush you want to grow and root the cuttings in soil. "It is the fastest and easiest way to propagate roses," says Langelo, adding that you should choose a cutting that is free of insects and diseases. How to Grow and Care for Roses 04 of 10 Potatoes Credit: Getty Images 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 a few pieces off your potato, ensuring each piece has at least one eye. Plant the pieces with the eyes facing up in well-draining soil, burying each piece about 6 inches deep. How to Grow and Care for Potatoes—Including Martha's Favorite Planting Method 05 of 10 Blueberries Credit: Getty Images Growing blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) from seed doesn't guarantee a "true-to-type" plant, meaning it may not have the same characteristics as the parent plant, says Langelo. Growing blueberries from cuttings is the most reliable way to carry the traits from the parent plant. 06 of 10 Peonies Credit: Getty Images While it is possible to grow peonies (Paeonia) from seed, doing so won't produce the results you're looking for. "Any seed-grown peonies will not carry forward the characteristics of the parent plant," says Langelo. Plus, it could take up to seven years before peonies grown from seed are mature enough to flower. 07 of 10 Hostas Credit: Getty Images Hostas (Hosta spp.) are a reliable perennial plant for shady areas of the garden. "There are many varieties available spanning all sorts of sizes, foliage colors, and general forms," says Abdi. "With the unique features of the many different varieties, maintaining these distinctive traits is a prime consideration when propagating this plant." Dividing hostas is the best way to ensure you get a plant that looks identical to the parent. 12 Perennials You Should Always Divide to Keep Them Blooming Year After Year 08 of 10 Onions Credit: Getty Images While onions (Allium sepa) can technically be grown from seed, it's not the best or easiest route. Instead, most gardeners choose to grow onions from bulbs. You can also purchase onion sets, which are small onion bulbs grown from seeds from the previous season. Langelo says certified onion sets are much less prone to disease. 09 of 10 Rosemary Credit: Getty Images Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) won't have the same characteristics as the parent plant if it's grown from seed. Instead, it's best to grow this plant from cuttings, says Langelo. "Propagating from seed takes several years, and the result might not be what you want," she adds. 10 of 10 Stonecrop Credit: Getty Images Stonecrop (Sedum), as well as many other succulents, are best grown from cuttings rather than from seed. "Simply taking a cutting from a vigorously growing shoot and placing the cutting in moist media will support the development of roots," says Abdi. "Soon enough, a whole new plant will begin to develop." Explore more: Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas