Homestead Hack: Propping Tender Seedlings

by Texas Homesteader ~

It seems vegetable-gardening planting is finally going on all over the US now. Aaaaaahhhhh the veggie garden – how I love it.

Here in NE Texas (zone 8) I typically plant heirloom seeds in my ‘Indoor Greenhouse’ in February and transplant those heirloom seedlings into my garden after the danger of frost is done.

But this year I had a naughty bull jump our garden fence & decimate all of the tender seedlings. I had to start over.

I did replant many of my heirloom seeds but I ended up buying a jalapeno plant. It was so small that the winds were pretty rough on it.

So I needed to find a way to protect it from the wind. (and free-range chickens)

Use Whatcha Got, y’all!

I needed a way for propping tender seedlings to protect them from the wind. You know my battle cry: "Use Whatcha Got!" Come see this Homestead Hack #TexasHomesteader

Protecting seedlings is not a new problem for me. I’ve had to find ways to protect young plants in my edible landscape beds from the chicken’s scratching.

And I’ve also used available resources to mark where I’ve planted seeds so I won’t mistake a new sprouting seedling for a weed needing to be pulled.

But now I use that same resource to protect this young jalapeno seedling.

I needed a way for propping tender seedlings to protect them from the wind. You know my battle cry: "Use Whatcha Got!" Come see this Homestead Hack #TexasHomesteader

I cut a couple of small stems from a nearby tree. Then I criss-crossed them on either side of the seedling and pressed the end of each twig into the soil, wedging the plant between the two.

No matter which way the wind comes through, this seedling is supported.

It worked great. Propping tender seedlings using the twigs at my fingertips costs nothing and looks very natural as opposed to of using something plastic.

Homestead Hacks are all about using what resources you have. 

Use Whatcha Got!

~TxH~

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4 thoughts on “Homestead Hack: Propping Tender Seedlings

  1. candace

    We have replaced quite a bit of fencing – the kind that sort of woven into big open squares (I always called it hog wire but I doubt that’s what it’s really called) and is quite bendable. We have shaped it into circles to put around bigish plants or folded it lengthwise and draped it over a spot where large annual flowers will grow up through it and be supported by it. The only problem (not one for the birdman who lives with me – different set of sensibilities I guess) is that I am constantly trying to get all the squares back into their original and MUCH preferred shape! Ok ok, I am kind of goofy about some things, I will not go so far as to say obsessive compulsive tho!!! At this point in time I am trying to reclaim a long perennial bed that really got weedily out of control and then I’m off for a three week trip with a cousin to Europe. I’m pretty sure TBM who lives with me will not be into fussing with it so I’m going with thick layers of newspaper and several inches of bark nuggets on the top. It’s a lot of work and so far I’m only about 1/3 of the way along with the project. We are also plagued by moles. GAAAAK

    Reply
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      Dealing with weeds is my least fun gardening activity too Candace. But the newspaper & mulch should at least keep your hard work looking good, huh? And Europe for 3 weeks? #jealous Have a great time, girlie!

      Reply
  2. Nancy

    I have also done that. I have also made a teepee for beans and sweet peas out of larger sticks and twine. When my kids were very young they loved the teepees. Joshua, my University professor son, were just talking about fresh peas a few weeks ago. He loved them raw and fresh off the vine. Up here in Washington state w have wind storms and a lot of bigger limbs fall. If they were nice and straight they were trimmed and set aside for gardening purposes.

    Reply
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      I’ve seen others make teepee poles and allow veggies to grow over them. Makes a super-fun play place for the kids! Someone the other day was talking about planting mammoth sunflowers into a semi-circle – that’s a cute idea too although there’s not a roof on that one. I love your idea of combining gardening/food with children’s play, Nancy. Those memories are precious for them I’m sure plus they learned how delicious fresh peas are too. Teach ’em young!

      Reply

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