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.

Thanks for the explanation - I too am new to this. I am a visual and tactile learner so picture would be nice, if it isn't too much trouble for you.

tiffy, the milk are just fine to use. We have translucent white jugs here in Alberta too and they honestly work great.

What I do is cut around 3 sides leaving the last side as a hinge. Poke/burn (whatever works best) holes in the bottom. Put in some potting soil and make it moist. I use the sprayer attachment on my faucet but you could use a watering can or whatever works! Let the water drain out the bottom. Plant seeds. Now, take the top part of the milk jug and put it back overtop of the bottom part. Tape with duct tape or I have used packing tape too. Label.

Actually I usually label inside as well as outside.

Ang

Plain scissors work fine, too. I found I can get a straighter cut than if I use a razor blade/exacto. But I do START the cut with a razor blade...cuz it's just easier.

The drain holes are a little trickier, so I cut off 2 or 3 of the 'feet' of a 2L bottle with a ginsu knife. Makes quick work of it. I use the same knife to make little 'Vs' in the 4 bottom edges of milk jugs.

Another tip I found useful is to put a mass qty of soil in a large rubbermaid tub (I have a rolling one), wet it ALL down, stir with a kiddie shovel, and then just scoop it out instead of wetting down each container and letting it drain. Borne of necessity, since I moved my operation to the basement and needed to be able to do mass qty without hauling upstairs to the sink to water. I merely fill up a 5 gal pail and dump it into the tub of dirt.

Shadowspirit2000,

Just did some pictures the other day of the pop bottles, so here goes.

The first picture shows the top portion of the bottle with the three upside down V slits.

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Second photo is the bottom of the bottle with drainage holes and dirt.

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Third is the top and bottom together. Top flaps go over the bottom of the bottle.

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Next photo shows how you can lift the top to provide air circulation as things warm up during the season.

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Hi Tiffy - about how many seeds would you plant in one pop bottle?? I'm new at this also so please excuse the stupid question.

Judy

Judy,

Not a stupid question at all. I don't consider any question as such. :)

I am what's known as a 'heavy sower', and most times will empty the package while sowing several containers. For small seeds I will do the 'pinch of salt' method from cooking, so pick-up a pinch of seeds and spread them in the container. For larger seeds I'll place from one to five in there all depending how big. Sunflower seeds - the giant ones - I'll place two.

Hope this helps and welcome to winter sowing!