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Question on taking off the tops of milk jugs

17 years ago

Ok I am a newbie this year so I am playing this by ear this year. I am in zone 5 in Indiana so I think it is 5b. But anyways I was just wondering when do I take the top off of the milk jug and let the seedlings face the cold harsh world on it's own. Thanks so much

Paula

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Comments (4)

brightmoregirl
17 years ago
Paula, you need to take them off now. You should have not put them on at all. So get them off asap. They need air to circulate around them and to keep them from burning from the heat. Go to the FAQ at the top of this forum and get lots of information.
Jennie
vera_eastern_wa
17 years ago
I don't think she meant caps :)

I leave the tops on unsprouted containers and tender annuals...some tenders can get cold injury at 40 still.... I remove tops from sprouted perennials in the 1st leaf-stage....they can do frost well if you are still getting them. The tender annuals haven't had the tops completely cut away yet so I can re-cover them at night still if need be. My frost hardy annuals (and a few perennials) for the most part have been planted already.

Vera
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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.
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If the containers are frozen they might look dry but not be dry. The moisture will be released as the container thaws. If the containers are not frozen and look dry, no condensation, then they will need to be watered. For me, bottom watering works the best and the bigger the container used for water the more jugs/2Ls will fit inside and less time it will take. I tried using my misting setting on the water wand but found that the jugs weren't adequately watered. And it took a long time when I had lots of jugs. Bottom watering took less time and attention as one can do other things while the containers are soaking in the water. A kitty litter pan wlll hold about 6 jugs. I use an al. 12 qt. tub as that is what I had in my garage. I like the idea of a kiddie pool like Trudi uses and have been watching the curbs on g day for one. Also using a timer and sprinkler as Trudi suggests should work well. Though I haven't looked into this option because I have no outside electrical plugs and assume that one needs electricity to make that work. Once the tops are completely off or open I use a watering wand on shower at low pressure. That low pressure thing is very important as don't want to blast the seeds/seedlings.
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Yeah, 75 and sunny will make it way too hot inside the little greenhouses. I would remove/pull back the lid during the day and over night, too, unless lows near freezing are predicted again. (I don't cut off the tops of my jugs, I just fold them over, sometimes setting the bottom of one into the top of the next. That way, IF it freezes overnight I have the tops handy to put back on. Monica
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ccoupkir
17 years ago
Paulan, I'm a fellow zone 5 wser and here's my take on things. First of all, I hope when you say "top" you don't mean the screw cap, as that should never be on. As to opening the containers, I judge by how warm they get inside and how hot the air temp is. This usually occurs sometime in early to mid May in our zone. We are expecting some very warm weather for a couple days next week. I will probably throw a sheet or garden blanket over my sprouted containers to keep them cooler. My sprouts (about 100 containers or so) are still very small due to cool temps this past week. Most do not have their first "true" leaves yet. I also check the 10-day forcast at weather.com. It all depends on the forecast for night temps. A final note concerns that fact that if I open all my sprouted containers too soon, I will have no place to walk on my deck! Planting out time is still several weeks away for me unless the 10-day forecast this weekend shows night temps in the mid to upper 40Fs. I also go by root growth. Once I start to see strong root growth nearing the bottom of the container, I figure the sprouts are strong enough to take whatever Ma Nature throws at them. Good Luck!
mamimo
17 years ago
Hi Paulan, great to see another person from IN too.

I go by the germination rate and sprout size. In a jug where most seeds haven't germinated yet, I leave the top on. When there's more germination but sprouts are still small, I remove the tape and prop the cover open with a clothes peg. In this way, I can put the top back easily if they need protection. When the sprouts get bigger, the tops goes off and they fend for themselves. I also arrange my jugs so that the stronger/bigger sprouts are more exposed.

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