Gordon, I raised my own plants in beds up until 2000 or so. I went to a mixture of greenhouse and plantbed plants in the late 90s, then all to greenhouse plants as allotments grew smaller. The costs of plant bed supplies rose rite much about the same time, methyl bromide was hard to get, and the time it took to pull plants all pushed me to greenhouse plants. Plantbed plants seemed to start growing a little quicker and they could survive a dry spell at planting better to me than greenhouse plants. Just as soon as we finisned planting it was haying time so it was busy all 'round. Don't forgst about the gardens, too. I still missed having plantbeds cuz I did not have to depend on someone else. With no disrespect to my farmer friends that I bought plants from, it is just much easier for me to keep things as simple as possible.