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what to do with the white milk jugs

12 years ago

oops on the caps.

I have about 20 white milk jugs and thought I could sow in them but take the tops off in the Spring, I don't know, of just use the bottoms and cover with plastic that had holes in it.

Featured Answer

bookjunky4life

12 years ago

Are you unclear on taking the caps off of milk jugs in general or are you asking specifically if you should do something different with white milk jugs. This is my 3rd year WSing and I have seen zero difference in sowing with whtie vs. clear milk jugs. And, of course, you always remove the caps.

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Comments (10)

aquawise
12 years ago
Throw the cap away and leave the hole open! It needs to be left open when they go outside.
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Try filling them up right to the top with hot water, THEN put in a couple of drops or so of bleach and cap them so they're completely full to the rim. Give them a gentle shake (I just turn mine gently upside down a time or two) to distribute bleach (and then let them sit for a day or two. WATCH OUT FOR THAT BLEACH, esp. if the cap snaps on and doesn't screw on !!! :) I've not used this method for WSing but for using jugs to hold water for my plants and it seems to work. Just gotta let it sit a while so bleach it can permeate the plastic and get rid of the sour smell.
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Wondering do you have a pic you can share? One of the grocery stores here only sells milk in the solid white plastic containers. I tend to only shop there when they are having a good sale on meat so I only have a few. I was just going to use the bottom half of these and put a plastic bag over the top. Though now I am curious to see how yours look. Thanks, -StLGirl
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Pixie Lou if you want more milk jugs go to Starbucks and grab a bag from their dumpster. Even when an employee is out back they just ask what I will use them for from curiosity. Sometimes they will help me get the good bags (I am very short). Last year I got whatever they had and most were smashed. You can make them right again by filling with hot water. This year I just take the ones that look good. I usually get 9 or 10 good ones in a bag. I try not to get more than I know I want to deal with that day. There is always some other trash in the bag so when I get home I just pull out the jugs and rinse them off. Don't wait too long to rinse them out or it will be harder and smell bad. The dumpster, believe it or not is not dirty or smell bad. It smells like coffee and chocolate! After using many different containers last year I found milk jugs to be the best. More head room and easy to pick up and move if you need to- or just to peek inside. Don't get frustrated getting them ready. Do a few a night while watching tv. I use a box cutter to make drainage holes. I make four triangular holes. Then I use a rubber band to mark where I want to cut and make a line with a sharpie. Make a start with the box cutter, then it's easy to cut around to your handle-hinge. Try everything till you find a method that works for you. Have fun.
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micki
Original Author
12 years ago
You're kidding, Bookjunky, thats what I needed to hear, cause I'm running out of containers.

Right on, right on right on!
micki
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gardenweed_z6a
12 years ago
I generally don't need them for WS but I keep them to use for my pauper's drip irrigation system:

> poke a pinhole an inch from the bottom opposite the handle
> set the jug at the base of the plant
> fill jug with the hose

Water pours out the pinhole slowly, hydrating the plant right at the base so no water is wasted on foliage or mulch. Once the level drops below the pinhole, remaining water holds the jug in place against the wind. Plant foliage hides the jug (mostly) from critical prying eyes.
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bakemom_gw
12 years ago
for solid white, i remove the top, put a clear piece of pierced saran wrap over the top and tape it on. i generally dont use them for ws.
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sandysgardens
12 years ago
Just as bookjunky said, tops off and use the white jugs along with clear jugs. I normally have 90% clear vs white, but that's just the way it works out from where we get milk. This will be my 9th year wsing and no difference here in germination. I was hesitant the 1st year, but used them and have ever since - can't let a jug go unused!
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micki
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks all for your responses. I try to use clear most of the time and sometimes bypass a white jug. I collect containers every two weeks on recycle day. By the end of that period I'm down to white jugs and other containers that are of different shapes. I'm glad I asked because I run out of containers and have left behind many of white jugs in the recycle bin. A couple nights ago hoping not to run out again I picked up everything white, clear and even the quart milk jug containers. I also have a huge selection of other clear and opaque containers. I found the Kitty Litter container everyone is talking about. I also use OJ containers and salad containers and many many more. I'm sure not to run out this next two weeks.
And thanks Gardenweed for the drip irrigation system idea, I clipped it and saved it to my clippings.
Happy sowing everyone,
When is Winter really going to start?
Lots of rain today in the NE but no snow to talk about.
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gwen49
12 years ago
gardenweed
It's nice to know there's nothing new under the sun! I was planning on using this method this yearexcept I have been saving all my large laundry soap jugs and bleach bottles for it.
Wish me luck, in our KS wind I think the heavier bottles will work best for me,I may even get some gravel to add to them to help keep them in place. any thoughts?
Thanks
Gwen
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morz8 - Washington Coast
12 years ago
Gwen, there some ideas other than rock in this thread concerning wind....

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous thread, wind
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dorisl
12 years ago
I cut them up for plant tags.

Write on them with wax pencil (from the plumbing department)
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