An Amish Farmer Taught Me to Use Leggings to Protect my Crops From Animals

As silly as it sounds leggings, tights, or thigh highs whatever you call them are extremely good at protecting your fruits from hungry pests! Check out our new clothing line! http:www.freshpickedapparel.com

[@bewitchingcats]

It’s very entertaining to watch men struggle with nylon hosiery. Thanks for the chuckle. 😆

[@amywhitaker7256]

agree lol

[@izholmes]

😂😂

[@susanmetz9892]

I struggle also! I’ve decided through the years that not shaving your legs for 2 days before wearing hose is a smart idea. The razor stubble helps hold them on. Secondly, wearing a nice pair of spandex shorts over panty hose helps to hold them up. Just be sure your skirt is long enough to cover them. I know that going bare leg is in at the moment, but there are truly not many people who can pull that off well.

[@nanajane9612]

I'll bet his wife had a great chuckle!

[@ameebhatt2101]

Seriously man.....it’s so funny guess one plant has may be 20 tomatoes and you have to go wear all of them a sleeve then what about other plant

[@trayseemitchell7923]

This was hilarious! When you were trying to fit the nylon over the watermelon "about the size of a thigh" I laughed so hard I was crying! Thank you! Good info too. :)

[@saranaidu9836]

Size 3× pantyhose should fit around that melon!!😂

[@NaturallyKristen86]

Lmao!!!!

[@babyana231]

@@NaturallyKristen86 🤣 I can only imagine.

[@fouraces1949]

Because they are knee highs not thigh high lol too funny 😂

[@KatieAdkinsArt]

and then fitting over the squash...

[@rezmis]

"Grown man puts clothes on his vegetables" aha

[@Sclathrop09]

I haven't even watched the video yet and I'm already crying at comments...🤣

[@vickicsurbs444]

🤣😂🤣😂

[@4odyssey645]

lmboooo

[@mariakaragianni863]

Nice advice but then you get the neighbors wondering if he needs a straight jacket! 🤣🤣🤣

[@darryllcampbell3342]

You should see my eggplants.

[@irishpixierose]

Oh my goodness 😃 I couldnt stop giggling ever time you called them leggings. Very entertaining and great idea. Store your onions these hanging up with a knot tied between each onion, then cut off an onion as you need.

[@jeanlofaso7997]

Luke: I cover the fruit or vegetable when it starts to form. Much easier to handle. The knee highs will expand as the fruit expands.

[@janmohr8798]

I was just going to ask if you could do this. I covered my small cantaloupe this morning and it was so much easier! But, I worried that the stocking would hinder proper growth. Thanks for posting this comment.

[@kelleycoyle-fleer2972]

My grandma wore those and she called them stockings. Both my grandparents (mother and father’s parents) used them in their gardens. Thanks for reviving this tool.

[@adventureguy4119]

What all can I use these on

[@msavina9129]

Our grandparents made use of almost everything. She got the soap out of the Joy bottle, and put her cooking oil in it. I was “too good” to use that, but aye what the heck. Next bottle of Dawn that’s empty, Im gonna use it. It will be good yo drizzle it on instead of accidentally pouring too much on. 😀

[@jomiller4397]

Leggins / pantyhose can also be used to tie up tomato vines and if your veggies look heavy on trellis you can support the growing fruit / veggie with the hose around it then tie it to the trellis to help support it so it doesn't break off the vine too early. Another tip I heard was about strawberries. if you paint golf balls red and put them in the strawberry patch when it starts to flower they let the birds think they are to hard to get and when the strawberries are ripe the birds will leave them alone. good gardening.

[@7sheavenly]

Yes! I save used pantyhose (with snags or runs) to use in the garden to tie plants onto stakes - they are soft so they don't cut into the stems. Been doing this for 40 years. My aunt used pantyhose on her cauliflower and broccoli since forever; good idea for melons and squash too! 🍅👍🙂

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Awesome!

[@WinkTartanBelle]

This year I grew ALL my squash, melons, cantaloupe, EVERYTHING possible vertically. I used stockings/pantyhose, knee hi/nylons all over the garden. Used some purchased and reused net bags too. Worked great and I fit about three times the number of plants in the same space. Yes, THREE TIMES the number of plants all produced and it worked GREAT! I don't grow any giant sizes of melons, so it was perfect for me. I get the cheap nylons at the local dollar stores, so they are pretty economical, and many times can be reused at least once. Just be sure to have plenty of stretch left so things can grow properly. Watching you struggle with these made my day!

[@liorajimenez3085]

😂😂 Bless your heart! I wasn't watching @ first, just listening and could not figure out why you were putting leggings 👖 on produce. Then, I 👀'ed at the screen and saw that those are L'eggs Knee Highs! LOL Thanks for the tip and thanks for the laugh.

[@highpeacetess]

Ok as a fashionsta n a farmer I'm dying of laughter at this vid! ! 😂😂😂 its brilliant tho, and works! Love u guys! 👊💕👊

[@HelgatheHorriblez]

These are knee high pantyhose.

[@justdefacts]

Pop socks.

[@christinamclamb7501]

Yes! Lol

[@mamaAimEC]

I prefer him calling them legging over pantyhose. I have never liked the word pantyhose!

[@Recoveringred]

@@mamaAimEC me too. Maybe he doesnt, either. Lol

[@kuriouskat1490]

@GreenIdLady 1 Yess!!! I'm saying to myself, those are NOT leggings, they're Leggs Knee Highs...lol lol lol

[@sheilavestal3849]

Ankle length hose may also work for tomatoes. Cheaper than knee-highs by far.

[@siege919]

I was thinking disposable foot socks, $11 for 144 on Amazon

[@snowyg357]

I use organza gift bags for my tomatoes and peppers. It works great. Protects from birds and insect damage. The organza is very hardy and highly reuseable.

[@julsknapp7192]

Me too. I did this with my figs this year. Big fan of the organza party favor bags. 😊

[@schatzigermany2311]

I used them too for tomatoes and it worked fine, but on cantaloupe the worm literally bit a hole in the organza to get in. 🤬

[@msavina9129]

Anybody know if panty hose work for stink bugs or leaf footed bugs? Well Im gonna try it. Ive seen the baby stink bugs all over my lemon balm n picked them off. I know they will be after fruit nxt week probably. My nemesis. 🥺

[@karinablauvelt7358]

Oh man am I thankful for this! I’m a first time gardener and become frustrated with these squirrels. They had already took down 6 of my pumpkins. We’ve been doing hot pepper spray but this is so much more easier! Thanks luke!

[@catherinepususta8639]

I tried those bags on my tomatoes and the squirrels bit right through them and sucked the juice out of each tomato .Worthless

[@tyler238]

Where’s the update on all of those thousands of seeds you planted close together... been waiting to see

[@LindaW1956]

Right? I'm dying to see that! So curious!

[@tyler238]

LindaW1956 lol same here

[@Trthsker24]

"Leggs" not 'Leggins.' Lol, you know this kid didn't have sisters.

[@BoldlyGrowHomestead]

I have a reusable mesh produce bag that I use when buying produce -- I put one around my sunflowers to keep the birds off and it worked -- could be a solution for the deer too for other crops.

[@movednorthhomestead7244]

On that extra hanging down, for the smaller fruits and veggies, you can cut the hose into smaller sections and tie a knot for a new bottom, using one hose for multiple. If you have a heavy fruit/veggie, that is in danger of falling off of a trellis (for example) you can make a “sling” by cutting down from the top x4 about an inch. This will allow you to tie the ends of the hose to the trellis and give extra support.

[@sarahfisher6801]

I was about to make the same suggestion. lol :)

[@markomihajlovic7480]

thats genious

[@ladychicfashion1961]

I agree with you. This is a good way to protect a crop but it is an. expensive way to do it. Most gardens yield a lot of bounty and wrapping up every thing in panty hose in rows and rows is EXPENSIVE!

[@richardw3470]

@@ladychicfashion1961 A trifle late but - you can find nylons in thrift shops, SA fabric sale (people use them for soft stuffing in animals, etc), etc. Most are used, of course, but wash well as you will your foods before eating and heck they're hanging out in the garden with heavens knows what crawling over them, dust blowing in, etc. The worst part is if you have rows and rows - that was where my dad and his 10 sibs would have come in handy.

[@movinon04]

great tip- but also this trick also helps protect against light frost- and they can also be used after harvest for hanging squash, melons etc in root cellar/basement for storage-- many blessings

[@petetrembath2537]

Nice tip. I'm still waiting on some purple peppers.

[@joycemiller7908]

And, after all that, we can wear them on our legs! First we dress our food, then we get the hand-me-downs!

[@petetrembath2537]

@@joycemiller7908 That's funny Joyce.

[@OlObuffalo]

@@joycemiller7908 Other way around

[@joycemiller7908]

No, no, those were brand new hose he was using. Hope they don't get runs in them. So embarrassing for the veg!

[@ashtonnie]

THANK YOU!!! The squirrels, raccoons, and skunks have been getting to our veggies before we have a chance to enjoy them. Many of our eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, etc. haven't been able to make it to our kitchen table lately

[@Kermittreefrog]

I started using those stockings a few years ago because all my watermelons were getting eaten out. Works fabulously!

[@pagelivingbeautifully8252]

Great tip! Really happy to know about. We have squirrels that try to eat everything! Super happy to know about this cool Amish trick! Just ordered a bunch of them! Thank you Luke! 😎

[@highvibes38]

😂😂😂 WTH , THIS WAS HILARIOUS......OH MY, IM STILL LAUGHING LOL

[@CaitlinKindy]

You give so many good tips!! You need to write a garden guide book!! I cannot remember everything

[@miltongirl2616]

I already do this. Suggestion, put the knee high on while fruit is small. It will continue to grow with the protection. FYI you are not using thigh highs. lol those are knee highs. They are designed to have elastic around your calves.

[@leighkershaw6197]

Perfect timing for this video!!! Thank YOU

[@Quantum_GirlE]

Another great tip, put a clear Tupperware upside down over the fruit/veggie! If bugs are a problem, cut a little hole for the stem, n snap the lid on!

[@siege919]

How are you getting the tupperware over the fruit?

[@SugarBeeFarm]

Toile fabric from Walmart 99 cents a yard

[@gardenlady58]

you can also get tulle 40 yards for 9,99 on ebay.

[@brendabeaudette-kaim6591]

I never cease to learn amazing things from you! Thank you so very much!

[@jeannine9066]

That's fantastic, Luke! I just had to cut away more tomato than I kept because bugs ate so much! I hope it works against them. I also use the leggings around my lettuce seed heads to keep them from blowing away.

[@onalennasehume4586]

Hey Luke. Thanks for information. We are also going into warm weather here in South Africa. I used to use transparent plastic bags to cover my tomatoes. This solution seems so much more convenient

[@movednorthhomestead7244]

Dollar Tree = 4 for $1

[@lesliejacobs1439]

Pomona Ponderosa good thought.. I going to try the thrift store too.

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Thanks for shopping tip, I've never looked for them there.

[@annehellmann4454]

Thanks

[@dEEmARIE-]

Thanks for that tip

[@7sheavenly]

Yes! I save used pantyhose (with snags or runs) to use in the garden to tie plants onto stakes - they are soft so they don't cut onto the stems. I have used this method for 40 year. I learned it from my aunt who used them on her cauliflower and broccoli to protect from pests. Great idea to use on melons and squash also. 🍅👍🙂

[@gabbygertie8709]

I went past a garden last summer and had to do a double take! The gardener was supporting his melons on a fence trellis with very large cup sized bras. Funny but it worked! Not sure if his wife donated or if he went to Goodwill!

[@Mantras-and-Mystics]

Hilarious! Gives new meaning to the word "melons." 😂

[@boos5527]

Thank you for giving a shout out to Aussie gardeners! 🐨🇦🇺

[@MommaHun]

...as long as you don't say "Well it's about the thickness of your thigh, you should be ok."

[@melodyclark4347]

LOL Boom!

[@saundyfx6126]

So I use a material called tulle. Its very inexpensive and I cover my garden with it. It allows sunshine and water to pass through.

[@julietteyork3721]

Is there a particular type of tulle you recommend?

[@saundyfx6126]

@@julietteyork3721 Go to a fabric store and ask for that section. I normally chose white. Its easy to spot rips or tears, however you can chose any color. I stay away from wired tulle as it's not practical in weather. This could cause rusting. Goodluck.

[@julietteyork3721]

@@saundyfx6126 Thank you 🌷

[@twiggi80]

Does net work as well?

[@rhondapelletier2141]

I know this is a really old post. I have the mesh netting I’m just afraid to cover my tomatoes or my cucumbers because don’t they need to be pollinated?

[@cherylgreenfarb8044]

I learned this from Calikim several years ago but you can also use them as a sling for your melons on the trellises you made not too long ago.

[@bobbytalman1734]

I've been following you like a shadow and you make so much sense on so many levels of gardening. My learning curve is steep because of where I live (Tampa), hopefully next year will be a better year because I am able to incorporate much of what I have learned. Zone 9 is tough. Growing strawberries( 1st year, ?? hum), blackberries doing great, Boysenberries doing okay. Veggies very tough due to insects and disease. Beans do very well but everything else Zuc, Summer Squ, Peppers sucked. Going to try again when it is not so hot.

[@gcg7074]

Thigh highs. Hahahahahaha. I suggest you put one of those on and post us a pick. Great idea

[@sunnybluesand2730]

Great idea Luke. Thanks.

[@helennelson3120]

awesome idea............thanks for sharing...........we can get the knee high stockings and socks in the stocking nylon as well in Australia.

[@kellyadamczyk30]

I’m from Brown City!! I have to say it’s super cool to see this video on KZbin and you are talking about MY home town!

[@kellyadamczyk30]

By the way.. my neighbors are all Amish.

[@TheMayorsDaughter]

Neat tip! Thank you! I’ve had a squirrel and a chipmunk feasting in my garden.

[@hailitereel]

Hi Luke, Beginning home gardener here and have been watching you profusely. Love your educational videos. Could you do a video on the best worm casting in the market right now for those of us that haven't gotten into making our own like myself? Would love to get your insights. TIA

[@brittneystartsafarm6054]

Did you strip the leaves off your vines? Does that help the plant focus its energy on ripening the fruit?

[@tweakablelifecreations6543]

Wonderful! I have a bag of stockings I was hesitant to throw away! Now, I can use them! Thanks for sharing!

[@mamaAimEC]

Great info! Thanks for sharing this idea!

[@dlgarner]

Very interesting idea I've seen people saying that this works well as long as smaller bugs don't get up in there I can see this working for a few plants

[@simonhenry7415]

Thasnks for thinking of your folks down here in Australia Luke - I'll give that a try this summer with my stonefruit in particualr

[@sherrimize3004]

I’m definitely trying that next year with my squash. Luv your videos 😊🌻

[@lauradeck8975]

Love this tip. I've only used stockings or nylons to tie up tomatoes . The first ones you tried are called knee highs which are like socks so they go around the calf . Leggings have two legs and a panty top. Thigh Highs or pantyhose are what you want. The ones with the thick rubber top are thigh highs. Also most leggings are thicker or darker material and will block out the sun. Great video. 🌻

[@markkristynichols845]

TURTLES!! Finally found what was eating my produce--just a few hours ago! I thought it was rabbits, and it might be too, but found 2 little turtles among my tomatoes!! Love this idea--I have used t-shirts also!! -Kristy in the Missouri Ozarks :)

[@PopRoxxRadio]

Works like a charm here in South FL for our Seminole Pumpkins and it give the added bonus of tying it off and supporting the hanging ones up off the ground and/or pulling the vine down and having it stress.

[@janeteholmes]

I’m far enough south not to have fruit fly, but I have rodents, rabbits, parrots and kangaroos (no kidding) that will all eat my fruit. The guy up the road even found a pair of young foxes inside the netting on one of his fruit trees having a lovely time! I have heard of wombats being a problem too. We net our trees and I’m putting my veg beds in a fenced area with a net roof. Otherwise I’m just growing a buffet for the wildlife. 😬 nice to hear you acknowledge us down here though. Thx

[@thewildingslanding]

I have also used them to tie large fruits and vegetables to trellises for support and protection. Great video! Great idea!

[@wisedove7]

I put the knee-high hose over my young sugar baby watermelons growing up a cattle panel trellis and tie the hose (usually with a wire bread tie) to the trellis. This gives the fruit plenty of room to grow with added support when the weight increases.

[@conservativetothecor]

That actually sounds like a great idea. My mother would also put paper sleaves around the plants when she planted and the slugs couldnt get at them. Also tin cans in the corners of the plot. Fill it half way up with water and just at the water line a line of grease around it...Bugs go to get the water and slip and fall in....kind of like a fly trap...So many simple ideas.

[@Fuzzy110909]

You can also use tulle fabric...mosquito netting type of thing...super cheap, many colors...love your videos

[@firewaterbydesign]

I sure wish that I had seen this earlier this summer. I thought that we would have Indian summer but any hope of that will end this weekend as we dip down to the 30's. I had to hurry up and harvest my potatoes and tomatoes today. Tomorrow I will do my carrots before this cold front hits us. Many blessings to you from the beautiful Oregon coast!! 🌊🐟🐳

[@tracy8282]

Great tip. Thanks.

[@rik80280]

I am going to use this next year. The groundhogs got all of my winter squash and pumpkins this year. I hope it will work, then I can grow squash outside my fence. I'll update with results next year. :)

[@susansflorida1693]

Those are called knee highs because they are only made to go to the knee that’s why they are so small!!😆😆😆

[@klopez7080]

I expected to see you put the first 'legging' on a cucumber or tomato, etc. You can not get a knee hi stocking which fits your calves to fit anything that is 'as big as your thigh'. Get a pair of stockings - thigh high or a pair of 'panty hose' and cut the crotch seam. These come in different sizes by weight (of a person) but I doubt if you could get a county fair prize winning melon or pumpkin in any... Just saying...

[@TheArtisanbard]

Funny hearing you talk about this. We've been doing this for many years. We had some bushel gourds growing on a fence and to keep them from breaking off the vine, we used panty hose. Put the gourd in the 'seat' and then used the legs to tie it up on the fence.

[@vanessasgelding5131]

You are amazing thankyou from Melbourne Australia

[@ivetteblanco-torres980]

Great idea thanks Luke

[@Dovey62]

They also make great tomato ties! I just cut them into 1 inch sections, then cut the rings into 1 single strip.

[@lorricoulthard3812]

A suggestion - try buying pantyhose - I think you have knee highs . Panty hose you can cut off the panty part but the tops of pantyhose are larger. You can cut the in half and tie a knot

[@charlesroberts6490]

U can put the panty part over your head to keep skeeters off

[@GingerRatsep]

I love this idea!! I wish I had it on my itty bitty cauliflower plants that hadn't made it into the ground before a critter got them. With 9 cats roaming the yard you'd think I wouldn't have any plant eating critters in my garden.

[@pamt8430]

Get "knee hi" for tomatoes or cut the thigh hi and tie each end for tomatoes. Had no clue but will try this method next season

[@thekat268]

Years ago we had 1 tomato plant in our front yard. A squirrel ate one of the tomatoes. I looked thru my house and found a nylon bath scrubbie I got for a buck at a dollar store. I cut off the yarn tie, cut it in half and covered/tied the halves around the 2 tomatoes on the plant. No more problem. Never even thot about doing leggings. Great idea!

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Those knee high stockings made good storage nets for onions too. Tie a knot or put a clip between onions. Thanks for the garden tip..

[@truefuschniken]

Love this- thanks!!!

[@jamiescott5461]

Love your channel. I use to live in Western MA so all your tips worked. I’ve moved to FL now and having a hard time growing in the heat. Any channel suggestions for gardening in the South?

[@conniewallace7529]

I live in FL, as well. I'm a beginning gardener and am watching Pete Kanasis (sp?). He is in FL. Also, I watch Mark of Self Sufficient Me...from Aussie's Queensland. The weather there is subtropical.

[@BunnyBarnFarm]

Roots and Refuge farm! They're in Arkansas

[@conniewallace7529]

Roots and Refuge is great. But, FL is a different kind of beast . The soil here is very sandy. And, the growing zones are different. I like this channel bc he started with sandy soil. And, Self Sufficient Me is in a similar climate.

[@conniewallace7529]

Ooops. I got this confused with the channel in Jersey. THAT guy started with really sandy soil and uses 4-6 inches of wood chips to decompose to soil over time.

[@conniewallace7529]

....I've recently signed up with ChipDrop to see if I can have woodchips dropped at my property. Check it out on KZbin and Google.

[@kendramalczyk2613]

Great idea! Thanks!

[@CoffeeCakeCrumble]

I was debating chicken wire cages for my squash.....but there's so many I'd never manage! This is an excellent idea to try when you grow in quantity and the deer are on the move.

[@LB-tf3zx]

Thanks, great idea. I'll try it.

[@emmacampbell3719]

Great idea. Thanks

[@rachelball1174]

Those are knee high hose, not leggings. If you go on Amazon you can get mesh bags in quantity a whole lot cheaper. I've been using them for years, because we have a major deer problem here.

[@kuriouskat1490]

I put those mesh bags over my persimmons this year. Guess what? Squirrels took mesh bag and all. Yes, I go no persimmons.

[@kathleenschaefer8208]

Kurious Kat around here we say " time for a squirrel dinner!"

[@jeremyhenderson163]

LOL... "You can have this trick actually working for you.", ;P are you sure your only hoeing gardens my friend? Lol j/k I love the content you upload, VERY INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL.

[@heatherkarow8399]

It’s called a thigh high.... lol! Thx for the info

[@samvangemmert9482]

I always use my mothers old tights cut in strips to tie the stems of my plants like tomatoes to the support beams. Works perfect and they stretch with the vine so it does not ddamage the vine while it grows and thickens.

[@sn232]

Never used those but did use Thule and it absolutely kept squirrels and other critters away from my potatoes and sweet potatoes grown in planters! Just wrapped it around the tomato cages that I put into the planters upside down, and fastened with clothes pins. They had been digging in the dirt, but not at all after doing that! It also helps to give a tiny bit of relief from super hot days, cuts back on the heat factor but sunlight can come thru aok.

[@ConniesBitch]

Speaking of pests.. did you all see the squirrel running in the backyard of the house at about 1:08 in? 😂

[@rosagapi]

Ahahahah!

[@Chichimomma]

I think, in the future, we’ll have frequency devices to place in our garden to ward off pests. Going to be soooo much easier. Home too.

[@dazie1245]

Thank you now can ya show us how & when to use nylon's for SEED SAVING cuz I haven't gotten any experiments to work YET

[@billhiggins3845]

That's very useful information Luke thanks for sharing 👍🌻🦇🐓

[@danniellaboling3890]

I totally just did this this year! They work amazing

[@futurewhale5793]

I've been trying to figure out what kind of a boxer whatever I was going to build this is genius this is all I need right here thanks

[@UtahSustainGardening]

Oddly enough, I have never had that much problem with four legged critters in my garden.

[@kathleenschaefer8208]

GrowHow ohh, now you've done it!

[@RodeoCowgirl-55]

Good idea thanks for sharing

[@venusearthgirl-paintandtar6120]

Thankyou for sharing

[@rifflefuru]

A box of those disposable socks that are made of the same material at shoe stores for trying shoes on would probably be really good if you have a lot to cover that aren't too large, just the size of a big foot at most 😁

[@rhomanmason8131]

That was great information I shall be giving this a go 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@msworkinitout]

This is the best I seen in my search

[@MizRuthie]

I love your Channel! What growing zone are you in?

[@timadams1994]

Thanks for the info 😁

[@mydailyreward2090]

This remo is me of the childhood 80's song by Raffee! "Beans, beans, tryin' on some jeans, in the store, in the store! Beans, beans, tryin' on some Jean's at the corner grocery store!

[@lynnetheresa5841]

This little trick does seem weird but it works!!! The deer, rabbits, and who knows what else were eating all of my watermelon and cantaloupe‘s and I found this little trick. After I used the kneehighs they never bothered them again! I grow my cantaloupes and cucumbers on a trellis and it works really well. You just put it over the fruit and wrap the top of the stocking around the little metal bar and put a little binder clip or some other kind of clip on it. I love this method because it keeps the fruit off the ground too!

[@BlakesNaturelife]

Thank you I’ve gotta try this!!