Details are on the Winter Sowing form (linked top of this forum page) on how to convert these as well as many other types of plastic containers. Winter Sowers use every kind of plastic bottle they can get their hands on to make mini-greenhouses. ;) Dave

I liked it so much I made a copy off the internet www.toppers--place.com/pop_bottle.pots.htm You never know how many people we know would like to know the same thing. After they are collected and made up there is more time than money if you ask around for some one who drinks soft drinks. Saves all that going into the trash can. If you don't have a sodiering gun a drill will do just as well. And they can be used over at least until they give out.

Ohmygosh! I NEVER thought about the effect of sunlight on the placement of the intake vents/exhaust fan thermostat! My new GH is finished, at least to the point of being sealed, except for the frames we will add around the intake vents and exhaust fan and have rather abandonded it for the present, as we hustle to get our fall yard and field work done while the Sun shines, which it hasn't for much of the past month. But we do have electricity into the GH, so even when it turns really cold, we can still work inside of it and one of the questions has been the placement of the thermostats. Now I've been warned about the one for the vents/fan, I'll be sure to mount it in a shaded location, but what about the thermostat for the heater? My best sense tells me it should be mounted by the north facing door at the opposite end of the GH from the heater, because even with the intake vents and exhaust fan closed for the winter, the roof vents will still release excess heat. Yes? No?

whiteapple - I think you're talking about what Trudi calls "Hot Caps." There is one page of info on that on the Wintersown.org site - it's in the FAQ, from the Tomatoes link there is a transplanting tomatoes link, I've posted the direct link with this message. I had posted a question about the same thing a week or so ago - but not many responses. My guess is that most people don't use the water bottle method here. I tried some searches of this forum, the growing from seed forum, and the vegetable forum, but found very few threads that mention it, and those that do have only brief mentions, in maybe one or two posts. I tried several variations of search terms, but maybe I didn't pick the right ones. I'm not sure if the bottles work as mini green houses or not. They are called hot caps, but the page only mentions protection from insects, bird attacks, and animals. It does specifically cite using water bottles (looks like the 12 oz ones to me), so I doubt the ridges are an issue, and gives very specific directions on how to do it. I was curious about whether or not the bottles also trap heat, and if so, how much. I have been saving Gatorade bottles, clear 2-liter bottles, and some of those very large pretzel containers (clear) from Costco to use. I'm guessing 1 liter bottles would also work fine, pretty much any clear bottle. I'm hoping to keep my peppers and tomatoes a little warmer in the early season to hopefully jumpstart the harvest. It's my first year trying that, so I don't know what to expect, and don't have any experience to share. For the peppers and tomatoes, I plan to use larger containers (liter/2 liter) in order to keep them in place until closer to when the plant matures. I may have to cut off tops to make a wider opening to not trap too much heat. I plan to use the small containers for my early lettuce, cucumber, broccoli, spinach, corn, melon plants to give them time to get established before the rabbits come nibble. I plan to use the really big pretzel containers over my soybean plants as permanent protection from the rabbits, and also to warm them up a little earlier right after planting. I think with the really wide tops, and large diameter, they should be OK heat-wise with no risk of touching. Again, that's just my plan and I'm hoping for success. I'm going to keep an eye on it, and at the first sign of temps to high within the container or the plant outgrowing it and in danger of touching the side, they'll be removed. Another option, which I may or may not try (weather depending) is covering an area of your bed with black plastic to pre-heat the soil. I found out about that when looking for any posts related to the water bottle hotcap greenhouses. I can't remember where, but at least a few people seem to do that. I'm considering doing that where I plan to plant the tomatoes, peppers, and possibly soybeans. I won't bother for the other fruits/veggies which were all fine last year direct sown into cold ground. It may speed up cucs and melons a little, but I don't think it will be necessary. Last year was an exceptionally cold, wet spring for me. Good luck. Whatever you decide, please share your plans and experience. I'm always on the lookout for better ideas. Sherri Here is a link that might be useful: Hot Caps (transplanting tomatoes) at Wintersown.org