That's a great little slide show, and exactly the way I do my milk jugs except i use duct tape. Now is fine for most things, though I'll do my zinnias and things that sprout quickly a little later. My marigolds went out yesterday and my petunias went out almost three weeks ago as well as a bunch of perennials. They're sitting outside now surrounded by the little bit of snow we've gotten over the past week. The year we had the two blizzards in five days they were covered for weeks and everything did just fine. In fact, I think snow cover makes it easier, it insulates and then waters as it melts -- no fuss, no worry about whether they're drying out. Give it a try, you'll probably be hooked. Caryl

Mussie, Don't know about the milk jugs since here in NS they are made of a white plastic and I'm hesitant about using them. For the pop bottles, this is how I do them. 1. Rinse out with hot water and remove label. 2. Cut the bottle in half with an exacto knife/ box cutter. 3. Place drain holes in the bottom. I do this with a soldering iron, but it can be done by cutting/melting with anything that will produce drain holes. 4. Fill the bottom with at least 3 inches of soil and soak the soil. I fill the sink up a bit, and place the 'bottoms' in the sink to soak while I finish the top of the bottle and get the seeds and tags ready. 5. For the top, throw out the cap. 6. Make 3 slim upside-down V slits in the top section where you cut the bottle in half. 7. Sow the seeds, remember to tag. 8. Slide the top over the bottom. 9. Place the container outside in an area which will get snow and rain. As the seeds germinate, and the weather warms, you can lift the lids bit by bit. Since you have the upside down V slits in there, the sprouts/plants will be come more and more exposed to the elements and aerated. If you expect a really cold night and are worried, just push the lid back onto the bottom. Hope this is clearer than mud. LOL!! If you want pictures, I can get some done today and post them later or tomorrow.

Hi everyone, Thanks for the recent replies. Mo, I got the terracotta spheres on a road trip to New Mexico (to visit Santa Fe Greenhouses (aka "High Country Gardens" in their catalog)). I didn't get the spheres there, but at nearby Jackalope which sells all sorts of pots, terracotta, wrought iron, etc. If I see them locally I'll let you know. Brodie, sorry your first painted one was stolen. That's too bad. I'm glad your entire family has new ones now. Gldno, yes, I'm debating applying something on it to at least slow its rusting away. Pat, I love the idea of milkweed planted in one--very clever. This one has the lid (rusted on) so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. As an aside, it's also filled with fluid that doesn't drain out--seems like about 1/5th of the container. Maybe I don't WANT to figure out how to get the lid off, heh heh! A mail box might be a fun use for it too. I'm going to search online for pics! Harleylady, let us know how your final planting goes and how you incorporate the milk can. Thanks again for the replies, Take care, Grant and his rusted milk can filled with unknown, possibly nasty fluid. :)

I have a gallon glass jug with a plastic screw on lid with a handle and no spigot - but I looked on the www and couldn't find any similar ones except the spigoted ones. I use mine for hummingbird sugar water and when it's full I always have the fear that the lid will fall off or the handle will break... so if I post that I've broken my foot you'll know how it happened! lol I hope somebody can find one for you!