Use Trudi's thumb test. If you put your thumb up against the inside - can you see through? If not and they are opaque white, I advise you to cut off the topc completely cover with saran wrap or a plastic bag and secure (after putting vent holes in the plastic.

It works just fine except sometimes the plastic gets weighted down by snow and ice. But I have done it plenty of times with very little problem.

Can you describe the jugs you are using?
I used the less-than-clear jugs from Costco last year with success. I live in the Denver area of Colorado, zone 5, and the jugs hang out on my porch which is fairly shaded. I know that we have a lot of sunlight here in Colorado but I have no idea how that is measured let alone compared. I hope that helps.

Translucent or clear works great, but if you can't see your thumb behind the plastic it wwon't be able to let in light. If you have used these opaque jusgs do like Bakemom says and cut off the tops and insert into a baggie, add some slits top and bottom to the baggie and you're all set.

T

Here's the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Trudi's Tumb test from the FAQs

I sure wish I had read this before sowing my seeds today, my milk jugs are white, I only used one so far, the other one is clear, however, I also used a large yogurt container that's a solid white and added soil a little more than half way mark up. I did cut the top out and left just the rim on with syran wrap, will this be okay?

As far as the white milk jug goes, can I cut the top off of that and put a baggie around the jug? I don't have large enough baggies to cover the milk jug, but can purchase some tomorrow, I hope. Should I take the milk jug in or will it be okay outside until I can cut the top off?

Thank you!
Linda

Now lets not get all in a panic here! Has anyone ever seen a CLEAR milk jug? Soda/pop bottles are clear, absolutely clear, but milk jugs are not.... aren't they all sort of milky white? Opaque, but certainly not clear. I sowed almost a hundred of these milky opague jugs last year and had terrific germination rates.

I bet that's what you have and I bet you'll see your thumb through it!

Costco milk jugs are the only kind I have ever used and it works great for me. I bet you will be just fine.

Mine look like this. Light passes through. Do they look like this, or different?

{{gwi:260472}}

Karen

In my experience, Yogurt containers- and even the THICK red Foldgers Coffee containers will work too- IF you cut the inside of the lids off- leaving just the rim that seals the top to the bottom- with a piece of saran wrap in between.
I have seen many Milk jugs with "open windows" cut into the sides and all placed into a clear plastic bag tied at the top. There is a stronger support left to thwart heavy snows and rain when you just open the sides, and leave the top and handle intact.
You know- these seeds really want to grow- and old Ma Nature really will help you too- You have to make sure there is good soil- water enough- good drainage- protection from drying winter winds and a good location where they won't fry in HOT sun and be patient. Most times the latter is the hardest part.
Keep the faith-

Julie

Thanks for all of the responses. I'm going back home in a little while to do the thumb trick. I'm pretty sure that these jugs will fail that test. The Costcos here in our area came out over the summer with some shape and colored jugs I've never seen before. They look nothing like the typical jug we're all used to buying. Very white and tall. Maybe there's hope, but at least I have the "baggie" method to fall back on.
Thanks again for the support.

For at least the last four years, I have successfully sown in the opaque Minute Maid (orange) and Tropicana (white) orange juice jugs as well as opaque white milk jugs from my local coffeeshop with NO problems whatsoever. I have not done anything to expand the light openings beyond the normal opening at the top of the as-manufactured jugs, and have grown bumper crops of just about everything that will wintersow here in MN.

Most of the milk jugs I saved are not opaque, they are white, they're Hood containers. I only used one though and I am going to take the top off of that one and put a large baggie around it. Just glad I found out before I did them all that way.

I am find that large styrofoam cups work great, I can write on them with a paint pen, I don't have to use tape and I can poke hole in the bottom very easily.

I'm working on another bunch today. I'm sowing all perennials now, only hope it's not too early.

Here is a pic of the milk jugs I have. Any thoughts? I can see my thumb through it, but it's just a dark blob. Nothing distintive.

{{gwi:457609}}

Too opaque.

Too opaque, as Trudi said, Brad, unless you cut off the top right where the handle meets the bottom part. Use the bottom to sow your seeds and cover the rim with a clear plastic sheet. Make sure you have holes in the plastic for ventilation and in the bottom of the milk jug for drainage. Then you are set to go.

Or if you like the sturdiness of it, couldn't you cut out windows in the sides and then cover with a plastic bag?

Karen, what's the verdict on your milk jugs, that sounds funny. Mine are exactly like that. Milk doesn't come in clear containers here.

Carla

Does milk come in clear containers anywhere? Isn't there an issue with light spoiling the milk? Karen's are like the ones we have here. You can see the potting soil line and those jugs will pass the thumb test.

Speedway, Fresh Market and others use the solid white jugs.

Brad,

I'm going to disagree with Trudi et. al. because I've had similar containers work just fine for me. Also, there are plenty of seed-starting sites and advice from trusted places like Thompson and Morgan, among others, that recommend germinating seeds in a wet paper towel inside your refrigerator. And that's completely dark except when you're grabbing your dinner or a beer out of it - so what's that 23:50 hours out of the day?

At the very least, the seeds will germinate just fine. My experience is that the seedlings will grow just fine too, but if you don't believe that, you can slice a window in the side in the spring as soon as you see germination occuring. I would not freak out about the jugs you've already sown because they'll probably be just fine. As for new containers, I personally would use the ones you've already got, and just tape them shut offkilter witha single narrow piece of tape so that some light gets in the sides. I've done that too and it works great.

Carla: the jugs like those in my photo work great. They are my favorite type of container and I use them exclusively now. Enough light passes through those and they are sturdy enough to withstand heavy snow and rain. Also, my area gets a lot of wind and small containers blow over or away, but never a problem with a gallon jug.

Karen

Is it ok touse those cheap 16 oz clear plastic cups and cover with clear plastic ?

I am new at WS .

Thank you