No matter where you live in the continental United States, it’s still early in the gardening season. Your plants are small, mere infants compared to what they will become. Even though we know what the final product will be, it’s hard to imagine that 3-in. tall Brussels sprout will become about 3 ft. tall when all is said and done. That Brussels sprout will need some help staying upright, as will a lot of other plants. Tomatoes, yes, we know they need supporting in some way (although my father never staked his tomatoes for some reason). Here’s a quick list of what vegetables need a little help as the growing season progresses and suggestions for how to support them:

Eggplant: A 2ft. stake inserted at its base and attach main branch; or a small tomato cage.

Bush or soy beans: Pole beans, yes, but bush beans? They can flop over during wind and rain. Start by planting them in rows, then give them lateral support by inserting two stakes on either side of the row and at the both ends. Then tie lengths of twine from one stake to the other down the row. As the plants get taller, add twine lengths higher up the stakes.

Peppers: Support similarly to eggplant.

Cucumbers: Option 1 is to let the plants grow all over the ground and have the cucumbers be yellowy on the side in contact with the soil. Option 2 is to provide a trellis for them to climb so the cucumbers hang without developing the yellowness. I like Option 2.

Kale: Yes, kale. Last year my garden plot neighbor grew leafy kale, which kept growing up and up and up. It slowly began to tip over—and obstructed the sunlight directly over my much shorter chard. Stake it up! Your garden neighbor will thank you.

Brussels sprouts: Just like that kale, Brussels sprouts get top heavy. Stake it at the base and tie the main branch.

There are likely more vegetables out there, as well. But these are a few that you may not have thought about—and likely wouldn’t realize until potentially too late.

Meanwhile, prepare yourself this spring by saving branches pruned from your yard’s shrubs. Or, head to the garden center now while they are adequately supplied with metal and wooden stakes, supports, cages and twine.