Milk Jugs vs. Lasana Pan

17 years ago

I know that we had a similar post about this last week but after what I've seen in 2 of my containers and because of the number of recent people complain about small sprouts I felt the need to bring it up again. I did all my seeds in milk jugs except for 1 lasagna pan that I split into two, 1/2 in Verbena & 1/2 in Petunias. I also did a milk jug of these same to plants at the same time. Both containers have had sprouts for at least 2 weeks; sorry I didn't keep exact dates on my 1st 10 containers. The Verbena Sprouts in the milk jug have continued to get bigger; they are 2 inches or more now, while the lasagna sprouts look like they just came up yesterday. Both containers were the same seeds, same dirt, same sun location, same everything, so can anyone explain why this would be? Has anyone else seen similar results with 2 different types of containers? I wouldnÂt think that a container would make this much difference especially after the seeds have sprouted.

Strouper

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Comments (9)

bakemom_gw
17 years ago
I had same seeds, two different jugs, sown at the same time. One was lush, the other spotty. I don't have an answer.
trudi_d
17 years ago
The difference could be the amount of sun, one could be in more shadow.
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girlgroupgirl
17 years ago
Could be the amount of heat soaked up by an aluminum pan. Also is the soil depth the same?
You know the molded flats, the ones that many 4" cups come in now? I use those for winter sowing. I can plant two holes with the same plant and only one germinates. Side by side. Who knows?

GGG
wrichard
17 years ago
I have planted most of my seeds in milk jugs and lasagna pans with lids. I noticed these things:

lasagna pans
- more surface area for sowing
- less depth of soil
- less ventilation (in my case, I had about 8 pencil size holes)
- possible to overheat sprouts (remove lids earlier)
- earlier to sprout and slower to grow (perhaps due to lids off)
- holds moisture longer with lids on
- easier to take lids off and top water gently

milk jugs
- less surface area for sowing
- more soil depth
- plenty of ventilation so they won't overheat as easily
- sprouts grow larger and faster and have deeper root systems
- easier to bottom water
- easier to transport

Which one do I prefer? I donno. It's a toss up. Each one has it's own advantages. They both work well for me.

My guess as to why they grow larger in the milk jugs is due to having greater soil depth and perhaps extra warmth in the jugs.
lblack61
17 years ago
Strouper,
I have to say that's why I prefer milk jugs. The grade of the plastic of jugs seems to give sprouts that extra insulation and creates more warmth. Even when we have a frost, I don't have to worry about things in jugs because of the depth they are in compared to the size of the container.
With things in pans or trays, sprouts are right at the surface or edge of the container. They don't have the extra "depth protection" that will keep them from getting burned.
On the other hand, when it starts getting warm, the items in the jugs seem more prone to getting fried (cuz it gets really warm in there...good when it's cold, not so good when the temps start rising). But I figure the best answer to that is for me to get them in the ground ASAP.
Just my two cents :-)

Linda
ccoupkir
17 years ago
Here's my take on the foil pans: when exposed to direct sun, they conduct alot of heat all the way around including from the bottom. This cause the soil to dry out much faster and many seeds like to germinate and "grow on" in a cooler environment. I really struggled my 1st year with the foil pans. I only use milk jugs and 2 liter bottles now, no matter how desparate I am for containers!
jennypat Zone 3b NW MN
17 years ago
And I have had a different experience, I planted only about 10 milk jugs, the rest were all planted in ziplock bags, with a cardboard liner. I planted about 100 containers in all. Right now I have about 80% germination, mostly all in the ziplocks, out of the 10 milk jugs 2 are germinating. Could be the seed type, I have to look at what I put in them. This is my first year too.

Jenny P
littleonefb
17 years ago
I've been WS for 4 years and have only used a few water/milk jugs over the 4 years. All my containers are small, lasagna pans, and plastic containers collected from year to year.

My germination rates in water jugs last year where disaster. 15 jugs and only 1 jug germintated. The same seeds where also put in lasagna pans and had 100% germination rate.

My over all germination rate in the pans and other containers I use has always been within 90-95%. Milk/water jugs, batting almost zero and would not use them.

Fran
northforker
17 years ago
When I have used the Walmart Lasanga pan (very deep, tall dome)I have been getting good germination and like that there is more room for seedlings to grow and that the tops go on and off easily. But I am kicking myself for using some other foil pans that are just too shallow - dry out in a blink, not enough room for good roots. These were take out chinese food foil pans with low domes. I will not be using those again.

Milk Jugs vs. Lasana Pan

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bakemom_gw

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