Garden Seed Planters are Essential Sowing Tools

Although I haven’t yet had my hands on a production model, I am privy to a prototype plate planter (about $160) that’s scheduled to be available from Hoss Tools by March. This planter is actually an attachment for the company’s line of wheel hoes. The Hoss planter attaches to the wheel hoe using the same mounting holes as the cultivator tines and includes a rear press wheel that also drives the seed-metering plate. The machine will come with a number of predrilled seed plates. Blank plates also will be available for those with custom seed-size and spacing needs. This looks like a perfect planter option for folks who already own a Hoss wheel hoe, or who intend to add that tool to their shed in the future.

For gardeners interested in planting in hills, or with less square footage to plant, a stab-style planter will save some wear and tear on your knees and back, save seed, and reduce the need for thinning. I’ve used a semiautomatic antique model to plant hill corn. The device consists of a hinged tube made out of wood and metal with a seed box on one side and a perforated slider that takes two to three seeds from the box and drops them down the tube and into the ground. You basically grab the two handles, pull them apart, stab the planter into worked ground, push the handles together and pull it out of the ground. A light brush and step with your foot seals the deal. New versions of this planter include the Stand ’N Plant Standard Seeder (less than $50 shipped). I’ve used this device over the years to plant individual seeds and small plants like onions to good advantage. You meter the seed or onion plants by hand, but you just need to walk down the row to get them into the ground. This seeder also is capable of planting in plastic covered beds with infinite variation in row and seed spacing.  

Editor in Chief Hank Will grows a large garden and manages several corn and forage patches for his hogs with the help of several garden seed planters.