The terms caps and lids can be confusing. The screw on or pushed on cap should be taken off. This is the part that closes the neck of the container. When one cuts the jug or 2L the top half is often called the top or lid. This is not taken off until after germination. I do not cut holes in my top/lid. The neck opening allows enough air circulation and collection of rain/snow that other holes are not necessary. I do lift the tops/lids a small amount at first or completely remove them in the spring when I know the sprouts will survive in the open. Some people add holes to their tops/lids for germination rather than lifting the top part way. Do which ever you want or try some of each to see what works for you. If you have a flat, such as lasagna pans, various salad containers, bowls w lids, other flats that you cover with plastic, there is no neck opening, then you need to add holes in the lid/top to allow rain/snow to enter and for ventilation when you sow your seeds.

whiteapple - I think you're talking about what Trudi calls "Hot Caps." There is one page of info on that on the Wintersown.org site - it's in the FAQ, from the Tomatoes link there is a transplanting tomatoes link, I've posted the direct link with this message. I had posted a question about the same thing a week or so ago - but not many responses. My guess is that most people don't use the water bottle method here. I tried some searches of this forum, the growing from seed forum, and the vegetable forum, but found very few threads that mention it, and those that do have only brief mentions, in maybe one or two posts. I tried several variations of search terms, but maybe I didn't pick the right ones. I'm not sure if the bottles work as mini green houses or not. They are called hot caps, but the page only mentions protection from insects, bird attacks, and animals. It does specifically cite using water bottles (looks like the 12 oz ones to me), so I doubt the ridges are an issue, and gives very specific directions on how to do it. I was curious about whether or not the bottles also trap heat, and if so, how much. I have been saving Gatorade bottles, clear 2-liter bottles, and some of those very large pretzel containers (clear) from Costco to use. I'm guessing 1 liter bottles would also work fine, pretty much any clear bottle. I'm hoping to keep my peppers and tomatoes a little warmer in the early season to hopefully jumpstart the harvest. It's my first year trying that, so I don't know what to expect, and don't have any experience to share. For the peppers and tomatoes, I plan to use larger containers (liter/2 liter) in order to keep them in place until closer to when the plant matures. I may have to cut off tops to make a wider opening to not trap too much heat. I plan to use the small containers for my early lettuce, cucumber, broccoli, spinach, corn, melon plants to give them time to get established before the rabbits come nibble. I plan to use the really big pretzel containers over my soybean plants as permanent protection from the rabbits, and also to warm them up a little earlier right after planting. I think with the really wide tops, and large diameter, they should be OK heat-wise with no risk of touching. Again, that's just my plan and I'm hoping for success. I'm going to keep an eye on it, and at the first sign of temps to high within the container or the plant outgrowing it and in danger of touching the side, they'll be removed. Another option, which I may or may not try (weather depending) is covering an area of your bed with black plastic to pre-heat the soil. I found out about that when looking for any posts related to the water bottle hotcap greenhouses. I can't remember where, but at least a few people seem to do that. I'm considering doing that where I plan to plant the tomatoes, peppers, and possibly soybeans. I won't bother for the other fruits/veggies which were all fine last year direct sown into cold ground. It may speed up cucs and melons a little, but I don't think it will be necessary. Last year was an exceptionally cold, wet spring for me. Good luck. Whatever you decide, please share your plans and experience. I'm always on the lookout for better ideas. Sherri Here is a link that might be useful: Hot Caps (transplanting tomatoes) at Wintersown.org

The choice of canning jars is up to you. Ball, Kerr, and Golden Harvest are all from Ball. Hex and other shapes, as well as 'LUG' type caps are usually more money. Unless your wanting unusal shapes and sizes, most people use the most popular and cheapest. Always realize too, that reusing a store bought commercially packed jar with some item in it, is not of the same quality of home caning jars. Many of these odd shaped ones can't even hold up to the home canning heat processes. Additionally if the covers/lids are reused, you risk bad seals, and possible contamination of the items inside. There are companies out there selling 'flint glass' type jars that shatter easily, so you would want to be sure that if you do get a good canning jar from other sources that they can be used in home canning. Additionally the odd shaped jars, if sold by other companies, should also offer an unlimited amount of reorders for the covers.

There is something intriguing about those caps. I feel bad when ever I throw one out (bottles are recycled butnot the caps.) There was someone here who made amazing things out of plastic bottles, I'll loook for her stuff and post the link if I find it. She may have used caps as well. My thoughts: the caps could be used to raise plant pots above the ground or the porch floor. They could be used as molds to make concrete things with the same purpose (I use old tart cups as molds for concrete for these) Punch a hole in the bottom and its a seedling pot. Bring a few to the beach to use in molding the turrets on sand castles. Use in drawer to separate little things from eachother (too bad they are not square). Glue to old bike helmet and paint to make head of monster costume. Use as a footing with cement to hold small objects on posts in the garden (or upside down bottles with necks in the cement.) Hmmm I think I need some too. kathy