[julietmaria]

In my veg book it says start off seeds in a seed bed and on the packet of seeds it also says that.   I have sown them directly where I want them to grow.  Are the doomed to failure?
Juliet

[DD.]

Not necessarily, but you're going to have to thin them to at least 18" between plants.

The advantage of transplanting, or initially growing in pots, is that they can be planted a bit lower down in the ground, giving more support to the stem.