Planting is fun! It can be a great pastime and an effective way to take your mind off things. Plus, it’s satisfying, too, especially when you get to harvest the fruits of your labour. But do you know what takes the fun out of planting? Back pain.
However, there’s a simple solution to this problem: a DIY hand-held seed planter. With this tool, you can plant while standing upright, avoiding any discomfort or pain.
If you’ve been planting beans and corn, you know what I mean. The task involves a lot of stooping, bending, and crawling. You have to poke the ground with your finger to create a hole where you’d drop the seed.
When everything’s done, you end up with a sore back. You love doing it, but why deal with a sore back when you can prevent it in the first place?
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How to Make a DIY Hand-Held Seed Planter?
Here’s a great idea: A DIY hand-held seed planter! Say goodbye to stooping, bending, and crawling. You can poke a hole, drop a seed, and plant while standing upright. Neat stuff, right?
This hand-held seed planter is very easy to make. You can finish making this in under an hour – and it’s inexpensive, too! The materials are also easily found at your local plumbing or hardware store. Gather everything you need and let’s get to work!
Materials
What you’ll need to build a hand-held seed planter:
- 1 pc ½” PVC, 48” long
- This is the main component of the planter and it serves as the handle. You can adjust the length depending on your height.
- Inline-T fitting (2 pcs)
- T-connectors are utilized to connect two pipes at a 90-degree angle, in this instance, they join the planter handle to the remainder of the planter.
- 1 pc 8” long x ½” tubing
- This is part of the planter that will be the pathway of the seeds. It’s a hollow pipe that is attached to the handle.
- 1 pc 5 ½” long x ½” PVC tubing
- This tube will be inserted into the 8″ tubing to make a smaller hole for the seed to drop into.
- 1 pc elbow ½”
- This is a 90-degree elbow-shaped connector that is attached to the end of the 5 ½” tubing.
- 1 pc 6” long x ½” tubing
- This part of the planter will hold the wooden plug.
- 1 pc Tapered wooden plug
- This wooden plug will poke the holes for the seeds.
- 1 pc long, narrow bolt (cut the head off)
- This is used to hold the wooden plug and the PVC pipe together
- 2 pcs washers (2 pcs)
- These are used to secure the bolt in place.
- 2 pcs nuts (2 pcs)
- These are used to secure the washers in place.
- 1 pc Tin can
- This will serve as the seed holder. The can is attached to the handle’s top using duct tape.
- Duct tape
- This is used to attach the tin can to the handle and to cover any exposed parts of the planter.
- Glue
- This secures the planter’s components, including the wooden plug and tubing.
Create a handheld seed planter to relieve the discomfort and pain of traditional planting techniques by gathering materials and following instructions.
Tools
To make a DIY hand-held seed planter, you’ll need the following tools:
- Drill
- A power drill is a must-have tool to create holes in PVC pipes, tin can, and wooden plug.
- Saw
- A saw is required to cut the PVC pipes, tubing, and wooden plug to the appropriate length.
- Tape Measure
- You need a tape measure to measure and mark the appropriate length of PVC pipes and tubing.
- Sandpaper
- Sandpaper is essential to sand and smooth the edges of the PVC pipes and tubing.
- Marker
- A marker will indicate the placement and dimensions for drilling holes.
Having these tools will enable the quick and easy assembly of your own manual seed planter.
Instructions to make a DIY Hand-Held Seed Planter
Ready to build your DIY hand-held seed planter? Great! Let’s begin the step-by-step process to create this helpful device. Follow these instructions carefully and you’ll be planting your crop effortlessly in no time!
Cutting the PVC Tubing
To begin constructing the DIY hand-held seed planter, the first step is to cut a piece of ½” PVC tubing to the desired length. It is recommended to use a length of about 48” for the planting tube. However, you can make adjustments to the length depending on your height and personal preferences.
If you are tall, consider using a longer piece of tubing to avoid excessive bending while planting seeds. Conversely, shorter individuals may opt for a shorter tubing length for convenience.
It’s essential to choose a comfortable length for the planting tube to make the entire process more manageable and efficient.
Add the Handle
After cutting the PVC tubing to the desired length, add a handle to make it easier to use. To achieve this, attach an inline-T fitting approximately 8 inches below the top of the PVC tubing using glue. This will create a T shape with the tubing and allow you to easily grip the planter.
Attach an 8-inch tubing to the inline T fitting to form the handle and ensure that it is securely attached to the planter by using a strong adhesive. Consider adding a cap to the handle’s end for a more polished appearance, though it is not required.
Attaching a handle to the planter enables improved handling while sowing seeds, thereby facilitating the process with greater efficiency. Additionally, this modification alleviates stress on your back and knees, enabling you to plant seeds for longer durations without experiencing any discomfort.
Add the Seed Spacer/Hole Poker
Adding the seed spacer and hole poker is a crucial step in creating a functional hand-held seed planter. To begin, secure another inline-T fitting to the PVC tubing, about 6 inches up from the bottom. This fitting will serve as the base for the seed spacer and hole poker.
Next, take a 5 ½” piece of tubing and glue it into the inline-T fitting. Make sure it is secure and straight, as it will be responsible for spacing the seeds correctly. After this, attach an elbow to the end of the tubing, making sure that it is securely glued into place.
The Wooden Plug
Next, glue a piece of tubing that is approximately 6 inches long into the bottom of the elbow. This tubing will be responsible for holding the wooden plug that will poke the holes for the seeds. To make a poker hole, insert a wooden plug into the tube’s base.
The plug must be created from a sturdy material capable of enduring frequent usage and sharpened to facilitate effortless piercing through the earth.
Ensure a tight fit between the wooden plug and the tube to prevent dislodging during use. To reinforce the attachment, drill a 3/16th hole through both components and thread the bolt, removing the head to create a small all-thread piece.
Insert the all-thread through the hole, put a washer and nut on each side, and snug them up to the tube. This will hold the wooden plug in place and ensure that it stays secure during use. Leave about an inch of all-thread sticking out on each side to serve as a depth gauge.
Add the Seed Holder
To complete your DIY hand-held seed planter, securely fasten a small tin can to the PVC tubing using duct tape.
The can functions as a seed container, enabling convenient access to the seeds for planting. Just transfer the seeds into the can, and proceed with ease, resulting in saved time and increased planting efficiency.
Using the Planter
To start using the planter, use the hole poker to make a planting hole. Drop the seed down the PVC tubing to plant it in the hole. The device spaces the seeds at the correct interval and ensures that they are planted at the right depth.
With this simple and affordable DIY seed planter, you can make your planting process much easier and more efficient.
Benefits of Using a Hand-Held Seed Planter
By using a hand-held seed planter, you’ll enjoy the following benefits:
No More Back Pain
With the help of this DIY hand-held seed planter, you can plant seeds with ease and without having to bend or stoop, thereby preventing any potential back pain. This tool is specifically made to ensure that planting is a comfortable and effortless activity.
Saves Time
Using a handheld seed planter can revolutionize the planting process by providing quick and precise seed planting, ultimately enhancing efficiency. Whether you are planting a small garden or a vast field, a seed planter can economize time and energy.
Easy to Use
Novice gardeners can use this tool with ease due to its straightforward and uncomplicated design, allowing effortless handling and planting. It is an excellent choice for those who are new to gardening or planting.
Inexpensive
Obtaining the components for this self-made hand-held seed dispenser is effortless, as all necessary items are available at a local hardware or plumbing outlet. Additionally, the cost of the materials is affordable, rendering it a cost-effective alternative for any gardening needs.
Conclusion
Gardening is an enjoyable and fulfilling pastime, however, it may also be physically demanding. Back discomfort can take the fun out of it, but with a hand-held seed planter, you can enjoy gardening without any unease. Additionally, creating your own hand-held seed planter is a simple and economical option, why not try it?
For a closer look at the finished product, check out the gallery below.
Click on any image to start the lightbox display. Use your Esc key to close the lightbox.
Thanks to Sensible Survival for this great project. You can get step-by-step instructions here…
